Israel experienced the effects of Storm Daniel on Wednesday, a storm responsible for significant damage and loss of life in the eastern Mediterranean, especially Greece and Libya.
Although Israel witnessed heavy rainfall, it did not anticipate the intense flooding observed in other countries. However, warnings were issued regarding possible flash floods in desert regions.
Such heavy rain is uncommon for Israel during September, but the storm is predicted to subside by Thursday.
Originating as a low-pressure system over a week ago, Daniel was trapped by a high-pressure system, leading to heavy rainfall over Greece before causing devastation in Libya.
While some sinkholes were reported in central Israel, no injuries were immediately reported. In contrast, the storm had catastrophic consequences in the Libyan city of Derna, where over 2,000 bodies were recovered from the flood damage, with fears that the death toll could exceed 5,000.
The storm had previously hit Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece, resulting in at least 18 fatalities in Greece alone.
Scientists indicate that such severe weather phenomena, like Storm Daniel, show signs consistent with the impacts of climate change.
More than 10,000 people were reported missing by the Libyan Red Crescent Society. The number of casualties was not immediately confirmed, but around 7,000 were feared dead after waters from burst dams flooded the city of Derna.
The National Meteorological Centre said that the storm reached a peak in northeastern Libya on 10 September, with strong winds of 70 – 80 km/h. This caused communications interruption and the fall of electricity towers and trees.
Torrential rains of between 150 – 240 mm caused flash floods in several cities, including Al-Bayda, which recorded the highest daily rainfall rate of 414.1 mm (from 10 Sep 8 am to 11 Sep 8 am).
