Among the most affected cities is the coastal city of Derna, where entire neighborhoods are feared to have been destroyed.
The death toll from the floods in the eastern part of Libya is huge and may even reach thousands, warns a representative of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent at a press conference Tamer Ramadan.
According to the organization’s calculations from various independent sources, there are up to 10,000 people missing.
Ramadan also stated on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, that Libya needs more help than the organization is currently able to provide.
– The support of all international actors for Libya is now strongly needed, he said.
It has been difficult to get confirmed information on the number of victims of the floods caused by storm Daniel, as many of the worst flooded areas are under blockades.
The floods have especially hit the coastal city of Derna, which according to al-Jazeera is completely isolated due to the storm. The city’s internet and phone connections are down.
The damage has been made worse by the fact that two dams near the city have reportedly collapsed. Al-Jazeera reporter Malik Traina said that some experts estimated that even more than 30 million cubic meters of water would have ended up in the city of Derna and entire neighborhoods would have been destroyed.
– There are no internet connections, no electricity in the city […] The destruction of the city of Derna is expanding by the minute, said the head of the NGO NCUSLR (National Council on US-Libya Relations) Hani Shennib for al-Jazeera.
The floods have claimed victims in other Libyan cities as well. For example, in the city of Beida in the eastern part of the country, at least 12 people have been reported dead, reports al-Jazeera.
Storm Daniel hit the Mediterranean region
On Monday, Hamad’s administration declared Derna a disaster zone. The eastern regime competes with Libya’s western and internationally recognized transitional regime. Prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah led by the Western administration has declared three days of mourning in the country and emphasized the unity of Libyans in the disaster.
Daniel is on his way from Libya to Egypt, where the authorities have already started preparing for the storm.
In recent days, storm Daniel has tested Greece, among others.
Destructive weather phenomena in the Mediterranean will further increase with climate change. For example, according to the EU Commission’s assessment, climate change has already significantly affected the Mediterranean region in recent decades: rainfall has decreased and the temperature has risen. The effects are expected to worsen as climate change progresses.
Turkey is sending international aid
At least Turkey plans to send rescue personnel and humanitarian aid to Libya, the country’s president said Recep Tayyip Erdogan message service in X.
According to Erdogan, in addition to personnel, Turkey will send, among other things, rescue vehicles, rain gear, tents, and food and hygiene supplies.