- The death toll reaches 5,200 in eastern Libya due to Storm Daniel and floods, with Derna heavily affected.
- International aid requested, and several nations and the EU have offered assistance.
Officials in eastern Libya report that over 5,200 lives were lost as a powerful storm ravaged towns and villages on Monday. Storm Daniel’s force, coupled with widespread flooding, breached two dams and unleashed three-meter-high torrents into Derna, a coastal city of 100,000 residents. Approximately a quarter of Derna’s buildings were swept into the sea, resulting in numerous casualties.
Ahmed al-Mosmari, spokesperson for Libya’s eastern-based armed forces, expressed condolences, stating, “In the city of Derna alone, there are more than two thousand deceased, and we pray for their souls.” Entire families have perished or remain missing, with an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 individuals unaccounted for.
Images depict extensive destruction, particularly in neighborhoods along the River Derna, which flows from the mountains through the city. Other eastern Libyan cities, including Benghazi, were also impacted, and some villages remain isolated.
Despite Libya’s political division, aid is being dispatched from the western region to the east. However, reaching Derna proves challenging due to severed roads and communication networks caused by the storm. The health minister in the eastern-based administration, Othman Abduljaleel, described the situation as “catastrophic,” with bodies scattered in many areas, overcrowded hospitals, and limited access to medical care.
The region’s already fragile infrastructure, weakened by years of conflict, has further complicated rescue efforts. Collapsed bridges and impassable roads hinder assistance. Tragically, three volunteers from the Libyan Red Crescent lost their lives while attempting to aid flood-stricken families.
Libya’s government has declared the eastern Cyrenaica province a disaster area and has requested international assistance. Several Muslim nations, including Algeria, Turkey, the UAE, Egypt, and Iran, have offered aid and rescue teams, while the EU has extended its support.
