Hurricanes, floods, dam breaches, and missing persons are feared to exceed ten thousand! Libyan officials: corpses everywhere
Officials from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on the 12th that over 10000 people are estimated to be missing in the flood disaster across Libya due to the impact of Hurricane Daniel.
According to a recent report by Xinhua News Agency, Prime Minister Usama Hamad, appointed by the Libyan National Assembly, said on the 11th that Hurricane Daniel hit eastern Libya on the 10th, causing severe flooding, with at least 2000 deaths and thousands missing.
Ahmed Mismari, spokesperson for the armed "National Army" in eastern Libya, said at a press conference that floods caused two dams to break, triggering serious disasters and causing residents of multiple communities to be washed into the sea. As of now, floods have caused at least 2000 deaths and 5000 to 6000 people are missing.
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According to Agence France Presse, the statements of Hamad and Mismari have not been confirmed by emergency departments or medical institutions, and there is a significant discrepancy with the figures released earlier that day by Mohammad Masoud, Director of the National Assembly Information Office. Earlier on the 11th, Masoud said that "Daniel" caused "at least 150 deaths" in places such as Delna. Delna is 900 kilometers away from the capital city of Tripoli, with a population of approximately 100000.
An official from the Delna City Council said in an interview with local media that the situation in Delna was "tragic", with four major bridges, two dams, and multiple buildings collapsing. Hamad declared Delna a disaster area and mourned for three days, during which flags were flown at half mast in public places.
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Resident Saleh Obeidi told Reuters that he successfully escaped the flood with his family. When the flood struck, people fell asleep and woke up to find their houses surrounded by the flood. In another eastern city of Beda, the head of the medical center, Abdul Rahim Mazek, said at least 46 people have died.
According to data from Libyan ambulances and emergency response agencies, 7 people have died in the coastal city of Susa. The Minister of Health appointed by the Libyan National Assembly, Osman Abdul Jalil, said that a total of 7 people died in Shehart and Omar Mukhtar.
Abdul Hamid de Baiba, the Prime Minister of the National Unity Government, which is in opposition to the National Assembly and controls western Libya, also announced a three-day mourning period. The leader of the National Army, Khalifa Haftar, dispatched troops to the disaster area for rescue. As of December 12, Qatar, Türkiye and other countries have provided assistance to Libya.
Libya is located in northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, and has been in turmoil since the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime in 2011. The national unity government recognized by the United Nations and the armed forces that support it control parts of the western region, while the Libyan National Assembly forms an alliance with the National Army, mainly controlling the eastern and central regions. According to the Associated Press, the lack of unified central government jurisdiction in Libya in recent years has hindered the country's infrastructure construction, resulting in problems.
Delna City is located on the northern coast of Libya, with a population of approximately 125000. On the way to Delna, media reporters saw vehicles overturned on the roadside, trees blown down, and houses flooded. The video footage shows that after the dam broke, a huge torrent rushed into the city center of Delna, with debris and walls scattered along the road. Rescue personnel boarded rubber boats, constantly salvaging in the water, and dozens of bodies of the victims were placed on the sidewalk.
An official in charge of emergency affairs in eastern Libya said, "When I returned from Delna, it was a disaster. Corpses were everywhere on the beach, in the valley, under houses, and many buildings collapsed."
Libya is located in northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, and has been in turmoil since the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime in 2011. The government of national unity recognized by the United Nations and the armed forces supporting it control parts of western Libya. The Libyan National Assembly, on the other hand, formed an alliance with the National Army, primarily controlling the eastern and central regions.
Hurricane Daniel had previously caused heavy rain for several days in Greece, Türkiye and Bulgaria, causing at least 27 deaths in these three countries. On the 11th, the hurricane hit the western region of Egypt, and the Egyptian meteorological department has issued warnings for possible rainfall and severe weather.
"Daniel" previously caused heavy rain for several days in Greece, Türkiye and Bulgaria, resulting in at least 27 deaths in three countries, and attacked western Egypt on the 11th. The Egyptian meteorological department has issued warnings for possible rainfall and severe weather.
According to Xinhua News Agency and Greek state television reported on the 10th that 15 people were killed in rainstorm and flood in central Greece. At present, most of the heavily affected areas of the Thessaly Plain in central Greece are still flooded, and many villages require boats and helicopters to reach, trapping dozens of people. The Athens Observatory said that the disaster has caused over 70000 hectares of land to be submerged.
