Reports from medical sources indicate that the powerful storm Daniel, which began battering eastern Libyan cities on Sunday, has now claimed 25 lives.
Government sources and eyewitnesses confirmed on Monday that the storm, which originated from the Mediterranean Sea, swept across eastern Libya, causing significant damage to homes, roads, and resulting in the reported deaths.
Videos circulating on social media depict residents stranded atop their vehicles, seeking aid amidst the flash floods that affected cities like Benghazi, Susa, Al Bayda, Al Marj, and Derna.
In response to the impending crisis, Libyan authorities declared a state of maximum emergency. Schools and shops were shut, and a curfew was imposed as the hurricane made landfall on Sunday and continued into Monday.
Engineers in the oil sector informed Reuters that four major oil ports in Libya, namely Ras Lanuf, Zueitina, Brega, and Sidra, had been shut down since Saturday evening for a duration of three days.
The Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, emphasized on Sunday that he had directed all state agencies to “immediately address” the damages and flash floods in the eastern cities. Meanwhile, the United Nations Mission in Libya stated it’s closely monitoring the storm’s developments and will offer “urgent relief assistance to support response efforts at both local and national levels.”
Libya, primarily known for its vast oil reserves and a tumultuous political landscape, isn’t often struck by storms of this magnitude. This unexpected climatic event further challenges the nation, which has been striving to find stability after years of civil unrest.
