A devastating storm Daniel wreaked havoc in Libya, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming the lives of more than 150 people.
The catastrophe occurred at Derna, the Jabal al-Akhdar region, and the outskirts of Al-Marj, with fatalities among both residents and visitors.
Mohamed Massoud, a spokesperson for the Benghazi-based administration in Libya, described it as catastrophic, not only due to the loss of life but also the extensive damage to public and private properties.
To assess the magnitude of the disaster and coordinate relief efforts, Prime Minister Oussama Hamad, accompanied by the head of a rescue committee and other ministers, traveled to Derna. In response to the crisis, Hamad’s government, operating in eastern Libya, declared Derna a “disaster area.”
Storm Daniel’s impact extended to neighboring countries, including Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, where it claimed at least 27 lives. Experts have characterized this storm as “extreme” due to the unprecedented volume of rainfall over a 24-hour period.
In eastern Libya, the storm battered the coastal town of Jabal al-Akhdar and Benghazi, prompting a curfew and the closure of schools for several days. Additionally, rescue teams were dispatched to Derna, located 900 kilometers (560 miles) east of the capital, Tripoli.
The crisis has taken a further grim turn, with East Libyan authorities reporting the loss of contact with nine soldiers involved in rescue operations within the city.