As a result of the disastrous floods brought on by the Mediterranean storm Daniel, at least 27 fatalities were confirmed on Monday, September 11.
On Sunday afternoon (Sept. 10), the hurricane battered the nation and particularly hard hit coastal cities like Benghazi, where a curfew was imposed and all schools were closed.
The worst-hit city, Derna, was designated a disaster area. It is no longer reachable, and local media outlets claimed that there is a dire situation there with no energy or communications.
The health minister of the east Libyan government made the tentative death toll public on Monday afternoon while speaking to the Saudi-owned satellite news channel Al-Arabiya.
According to the Libyan Red Crescent, one of its employees went missing while trying to rescue a stranded family in Bayda. According to local media, dozens of other people were reported missing, and authorities believe that they may have perished in the floodwaters that obliterated homes and other properties in many towns in eastern Libya.
Rival eastern and western governments have controlled different parts of Libya for the most of the last ten years. Militias and armed organizations support each. The UN-supported administration is in Tripoli’s western region.
The majority of Libya’s oil fields and terminals are located there. Maximum notice has been issued by the state-owned National Oil Corporation, which has also instructed its affiliated oil businesses to halt flights between areas where activity has been significantly reduced.
On Monday, September 11, the prime minister of the west of the country declared a three-day period of mourning and ordered that all flags be flown at half-staff.
An emergency response team has been entrusted with preparing to assist local authorities and partners in the region, according to Georgette Gagnon, deputy special representative of the secretary-general, resident coordinator, and humanitarian coordinator.
Storm Danial is expected to arrive in parts of west Egypt on Monday, and the country’s meteorological authorities warned about possible rain and bad weather.
Libya, a country with over 6 million people, suffers from debilitating infrastructure after more than a decade of conflict.
