Aid groups in Libya have warned of the growing risk posed by the spread of disease as the country struggles to recover from the devastating flood in Derna. According to a report by the news agency AFP on Saturday (September 16), aid organisations like the Islamic Relief and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned that the upcoming period could see the spread of disease as well as grave difficulties in delivering aid to those most in need.

Aid groups in Libya have warned of the growing risk posed by the spread of disease as the country struggles to recover from the devastating flood in Derna. According to a report by the news agency AFP on Saturday (September 16), aid organisations like the Islamic Relief and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned that the upcoming period could see the spread of disease as well as grave difficulties in delivering aid to those most in need. More than 11,000 people have died due to the flood in Derna and thousands of others are still missing as bodies keep washing ashore on beaches up to 100 km away. On Saturday, Islamic Relief warned of a second humanitarian crisis and said there is a growing risk of water-borne diseases and shortages of food, shelter and medicine. Risk of water-related diseases "Thousands of people don't have anywhere to sleep and don't have food," said Salah Aboulgasem, the organisation's deputy director of partner development. Aboulgasem added that in conditions like these, diseases could spread quickly as the water systems were contaminated. MSF meanwhile said it was deploying teams to the east to assess water and sanitation. "With this type of event, we can really worry about water-related disease," said Manoelle Carton, MSF's medical coordinator in Derna. US diplomat urges global mobilisation to coordinate aid efforts In a social media post, Stephanie Williams, a US diplomat and former UN envoy to Libya, urged global mobilisation to continue aid efforts in the wake of the flood. Williams warned of the predilection of the country's predatory ruling class to use the pretext of sovereignty and 'national ownership' to steer such a process on their own and in a self-interested manner. Derna struggles to cope with thousands of corpses Residents and rescue workers in Derna are struggling to cope with the thousands of corpses washing up or decaying under rubble. The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier urged authorities in Libya to stop burying flood victims in mass graves, saying these could bring long-term mental distress to families or cause health risks if located near water. Since the flood ravaged the city, over 1,000 people had so far been buried in that manner, a UN report said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Libya: Aid groups warn of disease risk as country struggles to recover from flood

On 10 September 2023, Storm Daniel made landfall in Libya causing severe weather conditions, including strong winds and sudden heavy rainfall affecting several areas in the country. Massive flooding has killed more than 1,000 people, with hundreds more still missing.

Libya: Thousands killed, displaced in floods | Latest News | WION

On 10 September 2023, Storm Daniel made landfall in Libya causing severe weather conditions, including strong winds and sudden heavy rainfall affecting several areas in the country. Massive flooding has killed many, with hundreds still missing.

Libya: Death toll mounts, search ops continue

Libya's port city Derna is becoming a wasteland after a deadly storm caused floods. But who is responsible? Is it a natural or man-made disaster? Watch this video to find out.

Libya floods: Natural or man-made disaster?

From China to Libya, catastrophic floods have wreaked havoc, killing thousands of people globally. The situation in the Libyan coastal city of Derna is particularly distressing due to the flash flooding caused by Storm Daniel, leaving around 4,000 and more than 10,000 missing. The Libyan floods are one of the eight devastating flooding events that have created chaos on four continents in the first 11 days of September.&nbsp;

Amid the worsening situation in Libya, relief missions have gathered pace with Turkey, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates among the first nations to rush aid to the conflict-scarred country. The United Nations has pledged $10 million in support for survivors, with more than 30,000 people left homeless. According to the European Union, assistance from Germany, Romania and Finland had been dispatched. The United States, Algeria, Qatar, Italy, France and Tunisia have all also offered assistance.&nbsp;

<img alt="Libya" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e8e155cc-1af4-42c1-b514-1d0fa4ee2817" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/libya.png" />

Image:&nbsp;A view shows a damaged car following a powerful storm and heavy rainfall in Derna, Libya, September 13, 2023. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori. Credit: Reuters.&nbsp;

<h2>Flash floods across continents &nbsp;</h2>

Apart from Libya, parts of central Greece, northwestern Turkey, southern Brazil, central and coastal Spain, southern China, Hong Kong, and the southwestern United States were inundated by heavy rain.&nbsp;

A report by NBC News cited Andrew Hoell, who is a research meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Physical Sciences Laboratory, as saying that many unrelated extreme weather events around the world in such a short time are unusual.&nbsp;

He said, "Sometimes we have a clustering of these events, whether it's in a given country, given hemisphere or globally. And it seems like right now, globally, this is prime time for a number of flooding events."&nbsp;

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Image: An aerial view of cars stuck on a bridge surrounded by flood waters, as storm Daniel hits central Greece, in the village of Flamouli, near Trikala, Greece, September 7, 2023. Credit: Reuters.&nbsp;

<h2>What is flooding and why such incidents have increased in recent times?&nbsp;</h2>

Flooding happens when a river or stream overflows into the surrounding area due to prolonged rain over several days or incessant rain over a short period of time. It is also caused as a result of a water control structure, such as a levee or dam&nbsp;failing. It leads to loss of life and property, and also outbreaks of deadly disease.&nbsp;

Weather analysts and studies have said that such incidents have risen in recent decades and climate change is one of the reasons behind it. The planet's water cycle is being increased by global warming and warmer temperatures cause more evaporation, hence a warmer atmosphere may contain more moisture. The phenomenon means that storms can provide more intense precipitation, resulting in serious flooding.&nbsp;

A report by the Environmental Protection Agency published last year mentioned that researchers have observed those changes over time as the world warms. The US-based agency said that global precipitation has increased at an average rate of 0.04 inches per decade since 1901.&nbsp;

Hoell said, "From a 1,000-foot view, it's definitely true that if you have higher temperatures, you have more water vapour, and therefore you can have more precipitation fall from the sky. But when you look at a specific event and the specific set of physical processes relevant to that event, it then becomes difficult to attribute every single process in that causal chain."&nbsp;

Climate-related extreme weather events are typically the worst in conflict-torn and impoverished nations with limited infrastructure, early warning systems, and strong emergency response services.&nbsp;

<img alt="Hong Kong" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="860bb464-4ef3-4d16-84c5-229b1b96a697" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/hong%20kong.png" />

Image:&nbsp;&nbsp;A view of a flooded area after heavy rain in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong, China, Sept. 8, 2023. Credit: Reuters.&nbsp;

<h2>But what's caused deadly flooding on different continents within a gap of 10 days?&nbsp;</h2>

Mediterranean Storm Daniel poured heavy rain over central Greece and Libya. Typhoon Haikui and its remnants dumped unprecedented amounts of rain on Hong Kong and southern China, inundating cities, and causing the heaviest precipitation since records began 140 years ago. Fast-moving thunderstorms over southern Nevada this month caused flash flooding. A cyclone dumped more than 300 millimetres of rain in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul in less than 24 hours in the first week of September.&nbsp;

All these incidents are fuelled by climate, but they are not linked to one another. Hoell said, "We really don't have a long enough sample or record to be able to detect a change because they're not really that common of an occurrence."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Dr Karsten Haustein, a climate scientist at Leipzig University told UK newspaper the Guardian: "While no formal attribution of the role of climate change in making Storm Daniel more intense has been conducted yet, it is safe to say that the Mediterranean sea surface temperatures have been considerably above average throughout summer."&nbsp;

Watch this report:&nbsp;

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<h2>What is 'Medicane'?&nbsp;</h2>

Mediterranean storms like Daniel which bear the features of tropical cyclones and hurricanes, known as "medicanes", only occur one to three times a year.

While scientists generally avoid direct links between individual weather events and long-term global warming, Storm Daniel "is illustrative of the type of devastating flooding event we may expect increasingly in the future", AFP quoted Lizzie Kendon as saying.&nbsp;Kendon is a climate science professor at the University of Bristol.&nbsp;

The EU's climate monitoring service Copernicus said rising global sea surface temperatures were driving record levels of heat across the globe, with 2023 likely to be the warmest in human history.

(With inputs from agencies)

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From China to Libya, catastrophic floods have wreaked havoc, killing thousands of people globally. The situation in the Libyan coastal city of Derna is particularly distressing due to the flash flooding caused by Storm Daniel, leaving around 4,000 and more than 10,000 missing.

From China to Libya, catastrophic floods have wreaked havoc, killing thousands of people globally. The situation in the Libyan coastal city of Derna is particularly distressing due to the flash flooding caused by Storm Daniel, leaving around 4,000 and more than 10,000 missing. The Libyan floods are one of the eight devastating flooding events that have created chaos on four continents in the first 11 days of September. Amid the worsening situation in Libya, relief missions have gathered pace with Turkey, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates among the first nations to rush aid to the conflict-scarred country. The United Nations has pledged $10 million in support for survivors, with more than 30,000 people left homeless. According to the European Union, assistance from Germany, Romania and Finland had been dispatched. The United States, Algeria, Qatar, Italy, France and Tunisia have all also offered assistance. Image: A view shows a damaged car following a powerful storm and heavy rainfall in Derna, Libya, September 13, 2023. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori. Credit: Reuters. Flash floods across continents Apart from Libya, parts of central Greece, northwestern Turkey, southern Brazil, central and coastal Spain, southern China, Hong Kong, and the southwestern United States were inundated by heavy rain. A report by NBC News cited Andrew Hoell, who is a research meteorologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Physical Sciences Laboratory, as saying that many unrelated extreme weather events around the world in such a short time are unusual. He said, "Sometimes we have a clustering of these events, whether it's in a given country, given hemisphere or globally. And it seems like right now, globally, this is prime time for a number of flooding events." Image: An aerial view of cars stuck on a bridge surrounded by flood waters, as storm Daniel hits central Greece, in the village of Flamouli, near Trikala, Greece, September 7, 2023. Credit: Reuters. What is flooding and why such incidents have increased in recent times? Flooding happens when a river or stream overflows into the surrounding area due to prolonged rain over several days or incessant rain over a short period of time. It is also caused as a result of a water control structure, such as a levee or dam failing. It leads to loss of life and property, and also outbreaks of deadly disease. Weather analysts and studies have said that such incidents have risen in recent decades and climate change is one of the reasons behind it. The planet's water cycle is being increased by global warming and warmer temperatures cause more evaporation, hence a warmer atmosphere may contain more moisture. The phenomenon means that storms can provide more intense precipitation, resulting in serious flooding. A report by the Environmental Protection Agency published last year mentioned that researchers have observed those changes over time as the world warms. The US-based agency said that global precipitation has increased at an average rate of 0.04 inches per decade since 1901. Hoell said, "From a 1,000-foot view, it's definitely true that if you have higher temperatures, you have more water vapour, and therefore you can have more precipitation fall from the sky. But when you look at a specific event and the specific set of physical processes relevant to that event, it then becomes difficult to attribute every single process in that causal chain." Climate-related extreme weather events are typically the worst in conflict-torn and impoverished nations with limited infrastructure, early warning systems, and strong emergency response services. Image: A view of a flooded area after heavy rain in Hong Kong, China, Sept. 8, 2023. Credit: Reuters. But what's caused deadly flooding on different continents within a gap of 10 days? Mediterranean Storm Daniel poured heavy rain over central Greece and Libya. Typhoon Haikui and its remnants dumped unprecedented amounts of rain on Hong Kong and southern China, inundating cities, and causing the heaviest precipitation since records began 140 years ago. Fast-moving thunderstorms over southern Nevada this month caused flash flooding. A cyclone dumped more than 300 millimetres of rain in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul in less than 24 hours in the first week of September. All these incidents are fuelled by climate, but they are not linked to one another. Hoell said, "We really don't have a long enough sample or record to be able to detect a change because they're not really that common of an occurrence." Meanwhile, Dr Karsten Haustein, a climate scientist at Leipzig University told UK newspaper the Guardian: "While no formal attribution of the role of climate change in making Storm Daniel more intense has been conducted yet, it is safe to say that the Mediterranean sea surface temperatures have been considerably above average throughout summer." Watch this report: × What is 'Medicane'? Mediterranean storms like Daniel which bear the features of tropical cyclones and hurricanes, known as "medicanes", only occur one to three times a year. While scientists generally avoid direct links between individual weather events and long-term global warming, Storm Daniel "is illustrative of the type of devastating flooding event we may expect increasingly in the future", AFP quoted Lizzie Kendon as saying. Kendon is a climate science professor at the University of Bristol. The EU's climate monitoring service Copernicus said rising global sea surface temperatures were driving record levels of heat across the globe, with 2023 likely to be the warmest in human history. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Why catastrophe has rained from the skies in the 11 days of September

Libya floods death toll hits 11,300: red crescent

In Pics: The aftermath of Libya floods; death toll exceeds 10k

What is behind Libya’s catastrophic flooding? Experts say extreme weather, vulnerable geography, and crumbling infrastructure made it worse. Watch the video to know more.

Libya: 5,500 dead & thousands more missing in Derna, City Mayor says 'need more body bags'

What is behind Libya’s catastrophic flooding? Experts say extreme weather, vulnerable geography, and crumbling infrastructure made it worse.

Libya's calamity-induced humanitarian crisis

The United Nations (UN) said on Thursday (September 14) that most of the deaths due to floods in Libya's Derna could have been averted if early warning and emergency management systems had functioned properly.

The United Nations (UN) said on Thursday (September 14) that most of the deaths due to floods in Libya's Derna could have been averted if early warning and emergency management systems had functioned properly. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Petteri Taalas, head of the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said, "With better functioning coordination in the crisis-wracked country, "they could have issued the warnings and the emergency management forces would have been able to carry out the evacuation of the people, and we could have avoided most of the human casualties." Taalas said that the lack of weather forecasting and dissemination and action on early warnings was a large contributor to the size of the disaster. He also said that the years-long internal conflict in the country meant its meteorological "observing network has been very much destroyed, the IT systems have been destroyed." "The flooding events came and there was no evacuation taking place because there was not the proper early warning systems in place," the WMO chief further told reporters. "Of course, we cannot fully avoid economic losses, but we could have also minimised those losses by having proper services in place," he added. Thousands dead, thousands more missing The reported death toll due to the floods has crossed 5,000. Confirmed death tolls given by officials so far have varied, but the number is in thousands. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, Derna Mayor Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi said deaths in the city could reach 18,000-20,000, based on the extent of the damage. "We actually need teams specialised in recovering bodies," Mayor al-Ghaithi said, adding the city will be infected by an epidemic due to the large number of bodies under the rubble and in the water. Several countries have rushed to provide relief aid to Libya including rescue teams, food, water emergency shelters, medical supplies and more body bags. Climate experts have linked the disaster to the impacts of a heating planet combined with the country's years of chaos and decaying infrastructure. The floods were caused by a huge Mediterranean storm Daniel that burst dams, swept away buildings, and wiped out as much as a quarter of the city. Storm Daniel gathered strength during an unusually hot summer and earlier lashed Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Libya floods: UN says most casualties in Derna could have been averted

Storm Daniel caused havoc in parts of Libya. Bursting of dams flooded the city of Derna, but what made the dams collapse? Was it the heavy rains, or the faulty construction of the dams? Who is to blame?

Gravitas: Libya suffers under heavy rain, bursting dams | Who built the faulty dams?

Eath, devastation rampant in Libya after flooding. Death toll climbs to 5300, about 10,000 missing; essential supplies dwindle.

Catastrophic flash floods trigger a spiraling death toll

Libya floods: Climate & infrastructure catastrophe

The situation in Deran which is the Libyan Port City where two dams burst over the weekend. It has been described as disastrous beyond comprehension.

Libya floods: Over 5,000 presumed dead

More than 5,000 people are feared dead and nearly 10,000&nbsp;are still missing in the flood-hit eastern Libyan city of Derna,&nbsp;said local hospital director and the Red Cross on Tuesday (September 12). A&nbsp;minister from the administration that controls east Libya&nbsp;also said that a quarter of the city was wiped out by the floods after dams burst due to the storm which brought torrential rains in the region.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said that the death toll has exceeded 5,300 in the city of Derna alone from the flooding unleashed by Mediterranean Storm Daniel, reports AP news agency.

The head of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Libya said that around 10,000 people are thought to be missing after the major floods, and the death toll is likely to increase.

<h2>Situation in Libya's Derna</h2>

The floods came after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/libya-hundreds-feared-dead-after-storm-daniel-causes-catastrophic-floods-635048">Storm Daniel</a> swept through the Mediterranean over the weekend, bringing strong winds and heavy floods to several countries, including Libya, over the past two days.&nbsp;

A team which has reportedly been working&nbsp;in Derna since Monday (Sep 11)&nbsp;said that more than 5,000 people remained missing while about 7,000 people were injured by the force of floodwaters that rushed down a normally dry river valley, reported AFP. 
 
A report by Reuters citing&nbsp;Mohamad al-Qabisi, director of the Wahda Hospital said&nbsp;1,700 people had died in one of the city's two districts and 500 had died in the other.

Hichem Abu Chkiouat, minister of civil aviation and member of the emergency committee in the administration that controls the east, had earlier told the news agency, “I am not exaggerating when I say that 25% of the city has disappeared. Many, many buildings have collapsed.”

The statement was made after the official said that he had returned from the Derna, a coastal city of around 125,000 inhabitants and described the situation as “very disastrous”.&nbsp;

“Bodies are lying everywhere - in the sea, in the valleys, under the buildings,” Abu Chkiouat told Reuters.

Addressing a press conference in Geneva via video link from Tunisia, Tamer Ramadan, the head of a delegation of the IFRC said, “We can confirm from our independent sources of information that the number of missing people is hitting 10,000 so far.”&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile,&nbsp;Libya’s Red Crescent spokesman Taqfiq Shukri, said as many as&nbsp;2,084 people are confirmed dead.&nbsp;

<h2>Damage and aid</h2>

A Reuters journalist on their way to Derna saw vehicles overturned on the edges of roads, trees knocked down and abandoned flooded houses.

Reports citing images and videos by residents in the flood-stricken areas also said that a wide torrent was seen running through Derna’s city centre after dams burst.&nbsp;

Libya has been politically split east and west with two rival administrations in charge and crumbling public services since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising.&nbsp;

The head of the eastern Libyan government, Osama Hamad, is not internationally recognised and operates in the eastern regions of the country that are controlled by Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA).&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the&nbsp;internationally recognised Western&nbsp;government in Tripoli does not&nbsp;control eastern areas and has dispatched&nbsp;aid to Derna. Additionally, other&nbsp;countries, including the United States and Turkey&nbsp;said that they would help.&nbsp;

Medical aid supplies sent by&nbsp;municipalities of Tripoli and Misrata, along with donations from businessmen, arrived in Al Abraq airport, on Tuesday (Sep 12), reported Reuters.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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More than 5,000 people are feared dead and nearly 10,000 are still missing in the flood-hit eastern Libyan city of Derna, said local hospital director and the Red Cross on Tuesday (September 12).

More than 5,000 people are feared dead and nearly 10,000 are still missing in the flood-hit eastern Libyan city of Derna, said local hospital director and the Red Cross on Tuesday (September 12). A minister from the administration that controls east Libya also said that a quarter of the city was wiped out by the floods after dams burst due to the storm which brought torrential rains in the region. An Interior Ministry spokesman said that the death toll has exceeded 5,300 in the city of Derna alone from the flooding unleashed by Mediterranean Storm Daniel, reports AP news agency. The head of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Libya said that around 10,000 people are thought to be missing after the major floods, and the death toll is likely to increase. Situation in Libya's Derna The floods came after Storm Daniel swept through the Mediterranean over the weekend, bringing strong winds and heavy floods to several countries, including Libya, over the past two days. A team which has reportedly been working in Derna since Monday (Sep 11) said that more than 5,000 people remained missing while about 7,000 people were injured by the force of floodwaters that rushed down a normally dry river valley, reported AFP. A report by Reuters citing Mohamad al-Qabisi, director of the Wahda Hospital said 1,700 people had died in one of the city's two districts and 500 had died in the other. Hichem Abu Chkiouat, minister of civil aviation and member of the emergency committee in the administration that controls the east, had earlier told the news agency, “I am not exaggerating when I say that 25% of the city has disappeared. Many, many buildings have collapsed.” The statement was made after the official said that he had returned from the Derna, a coastal city of around 125,000 inhabitants and described the situation as “very disastrous”. “Bodies are lying everywhere - in the sea, in the valleys, under the buildings,” Abu Chkiouat told Reuters. Addressing a press conference in Geneva via video link from Tunisia, Tamer Ramadan, the head of a delegation of the IFRC said, “We can confirm from our independent sources of information that the number of missing people is hitting 10,000 so far.” Meanwhile, Libya’s Red Crescent spokesman Taqfiq Shukri, said as many as 2,084 people are confirmed dead. Damage and aid A Reuters journalist on their way to Derna saw vehicles overturned on the edges of roads, trees knocked down and abandoned flooded houses. Reports citing images and videos by residents in the flood-stricken areas also said that a wide torrent was seen running through Derna’s city centre after dams burst. Libya has been politically split east and west with two rival administrations in charge and crumbling public services since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising. The head of the eastern Libyan government, Osama Hamad, is not internationally recognised and operates in the eastern regions of the country that are controlled by Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA). Meanwhile, the internationally recognised Western government in Tripoli does not control eastern areas and has dispatched aid to Derna. Additionally, other countries, including the United States and Turkey said that they would help. Medical aid supplies sent by municipalities of Tripoli and Misrata, along with donations from businessmen, arrived in Al Abraq airport, on Tuesday (Sep 12), reported Reuters. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Libya: Over 5,000 feared dead, nearly 10,000 missing as floods wipe out quarter of Derna city

The situation in Maghreb which is the Libyan Port City where two dams burst over the weekend. It has been described as disastrous beyond comprehension.

Libya Flooding: Officials declare state of emergency

Libya floods wipe out quarter of city

In pics | Libya: Over 2,000 dead as floods wipe out quarter of Derna city

More than 5,000 dead, and at least 10,000 were reported missing in Libya as collapsed dams worsen flood disaster.

Libya floods wipe out quarter of Derna city, thousands dead

Libya floods wipe out quarter of Derna city, officials declare state of emergency

Authorities in&nbsp;eastern&nbsp;Libya&nbsp;said at least&nbsp;2,000&nbsp;people were killed and thousands more were missing after a massive flood ripped through the city of Derna following a heavy storm and rain.

Ahmed Mismari, the spokesperson for the&nbsp;Libyan National Army (LNA) that controls&nbsp;eastern&nbsp;Libya, said in a televised news conference that the disaster came after dams above Derna had collapsed, "sweeping whole neighbourhoods with their residents into the sea".

Mismari put the number of missing at 5,000-6,000.

Earlier on Monday, the head of the Red Crescent aid group in the region had said Derna's death toll was at 150 and expected to hit 250. Reuters could not immediately verify either figure.

Libya&nbsp;is politically divided between east and west and public services have crumbled since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that prompted years of conflict. The internationally recognised government in Tripoli does not control&nbsp;eastern&nbsp;areas.

In Tripoli, the three-person Presidential Council which functions as head of state in the divided country asked the international community to help. "We call on brotherly and friendly countries and international organisations to provide assistance," it said.

Also watch |&nbsp;‘Catastrophic’ flooding hits Libya, thousands missing

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Osama Hamad, the head of a parallel&nbsp;eastern-based administration, told local television that more than&nbsp;2,000&nbsp;were&nbsp;dead&nbsp;and thousands more missing.

After pummelling Greece last week, Storm Daniel swept in over the Mediterranean on Sunday, swamping roads and destroying buildings in Derna, and hitting other settlements along the coast, including&nbsp;Libya's second biggest city of Benghazi.

Videos of Derna showed a wide torrent running through the city centre where a far narrower waterway had previously flowed. Ruined buildings stood on either side.

Eastern&nbsp;Libya's Almostkbal TV broadcast footage that showed people stranded on the roofs of their vehicles calling for help and waters washing away cars.

"The missing are in the thousands, and the&nbsp;dead&nbsp;exceed&nbsp;2,000," Osama Hamad told al-Masar TV. "Entire neighbourhoods in Derna have disappeared, along with their residents ... swept away by water."

Mismari said seven members of the LNA had died in the flood.

Derna resident Saleh al-Obaidi said he had managed to flee with his family, though houses in a valley near the city had collapsed.

"People were asleep and woke up and found their homes surrounded by water," he told Reuters.

Ahmed Mohamed, another resident, said: "We were asleep, and when we woke up, we found water besieging the house. We are inside and trying to get out."

Witnesses said the water level had reached three metres (10 feet).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/libya-hundreds-feared-dead-after-storm-daniel-causes-catastrophic-floods-635048">Libya: Hundreds feared dead after Storm Daniel causes ‘catastrophic’ floods</a>

West of Derna, visuals showed a collapsed road between the port town of Sousse and Shahat, home to the Greek-founded and UNESCO-listed archaeological site Cyrene.

Libya's&nbsp;eastern-based parliament declared three days of mourning. Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, prime minister of the interim government in Tripoli, also declared three days of mourning in all the affected cities, calling them "disaster areas".

Four major oil ports in&nbsp;Libya&nbsp;- Ras Lanuf, Zueitina, Brega and Es Sidra - were closed from Saturday evening for three days, two oil engineers told Reuters.

Search-and-rescue operations were ongoing, witnesses said. Authorities declared a state of extreme emergency, closing schools and stores and imposing a curfew.

In Tripoli, the interim government directed all state agencies to "immediately deal" with the damage and&nbsp;floods&nbsp;in&nbsp;eastern&nbsp;cities, but the administration has no sway in the east.

However, Dbeibah's government works closely with the Central Bank of&nbsp;Libya, which disburses funds to government departments across the country.

The United Nations in&nbsp;Libya&nbsp;said it was following the storm closely and would "provide urgent relief assistance in support of response efforts at local and national levels".

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani instructed the government to send aid to the affected area in&nbsp;eastern&nbsp;Libya, Qatar's state news agency reported.

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Authorities in eastern Libya said at least 2,000 people were killed and thousands more were missing after a massive flood ripped through the city of Derna following a heavy storm and rain.

Authorities in eastern Libya said at least 2,000 people were killed and thousands more were missing after a massive flood ripped through the city of Derna following a heavy storm and rain. Ahmed Mismari, the spokesperson for the Libyan National Army (LNA) that controls eastern Libya, said in a televised news conference that the disaster came after dams above Derna had collapsed, "sweeping whole neighbourhoods with their residents into the sea". Mismari put the number of missing at 5,000-6,000. Earlier on Monday, the head of the Red Crescent aid group in the region had said Derna's death toll was at 150 and expected to hit 250. Reuters could not immediately verify either figure. Libya is politically divided between east and west and public services have crumbled since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that prompted years of conflict. The internationally recognised government in Tripoli does not control eastern areas. In Tripoli, the three-person Presidential Council which functions as head of state in the divided country asked the international community to help. "We call on brotherly and friendly countries and international organisations to provide assistance," it said. Also watch | ‘Catastrophic’ flooding hits Libya, thousands missing Osama Hamad, the head of a parallel eastern-based administration, told local television that more than 2,000 were dead and thousands more missing. After pummelling Greece last week, Storm Daniel swept in over the Mediterranean on Sunday, swamping roads and destroying buildings in Derna, and hitting other settlements along the coast, including Libya's second biggest city of Benghazi. Videos of Derna showed a wide torrent running through the city centre where a far narrower waterway had previously flowed. Ruined buildings stood on either side. Eastern Libya's Almostkbal TV broadcast footage that showed people stranded on the roofs of their vehicles calling for help and waters washing away cars. "The missing are in the thousands, and the dead exceed 2,000," Osama Hamad told al-Masar TV. "Entire neighbourhoods in Derna have disappeared, along with their residents ... swept away by water." Mismari said seven members of the LNA had died in the flood. Derna resident Saleh al-Obaidi said he had managed to flee with his family, though houses in a valley near the city had collapsed. "People were asleep and woke up and found their homes surrounded by water," he told Reuters. Ahmed Mohamed, another resident, said: "We were asleep, and when we woke up, we found water besieging the house. We are inside and trying to get out." Witnesses said the water level had reached three metres (10 feet). Also read | Libya: Hundreds feared dead after Storm Daniel causes ‘catastrophic’ floods West of Derna, visuals showed a collapsed road between the port town of Sousse and Shahat, home to the Greek-founded and UNESCO-listed archaeological site Cyrene. Libya's eastern-based parliament declared three days of mourning. Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, prime minister of the interim government in Tripoli, also declared three days of mourning in all the affected cities, calling them "disaster areas". Four major oil ports in Libya - Ras Lanuf, Zueitina, Brega and Es Sidra - were closed from Saturday evening for three days, two oil engineers told Reuters. Search-and-rescue operations were ongoing, witnesses said. Authorities declared a state of extreme emergency, closing schools and stores and imposing a curfew. In Tripoli, the interim government directed all state agencies to "immediately deal" with the damage and floods in eastern cities, but the administration has no sway in the east. However, Dbeibah's government works closely with the Central Bank of Libya, which disburses funds to government departments across the country. The United Nations in Libya said it was following the storm closely and would "provide urgent relief assistance in support of response efforts at local and national levels". Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani instructed the government to send aid to the affected area in eastern Libya, Qatar's state news agency reported. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Eastern Libya authorities say 2,000 dead in flood, thousands missing

Hundreds of people have been killed after Storm Daniel swept through the Mediterranean over the weekend, bringing strong winds and heavy floods to several countries, including Libya, over the past two days. The death toll was not immediately clear amid conflict reports ranging from hundreds to thousands of people, said a report by Reuters, on Monday (September 11) citing senior officials.&nbsp;

The storm in question also brought torrential rains and wreaked havoc in Turkey, Bulgaria and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-at-least-15-killed-after-storm-daniel-brings-most-intense-rainstorms-since-1930-634668">Greece</a>.&nbsp;

<h2>About the victims</h2>

According to the head of the eastern Libyan government, Osama Hamad, more than 2,000 people have died in the coastal city of Derna and thousands of others were reported to be missing.&nbsp;

However, he did not give a source for his data and the figures could not be verified independently since the country is politically split east and west with two rival administrations in charge and crumbling public services since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising.

Hamad is the head of the government which is not internationally recognised and operates in the eastern regions of the country that are controlled by Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA).&nbsp;

The head of the Red Crescent aid group in the region said Derna’s death toll was expected to rise. “We recorded at least 150 deaths (in Derna) after the collapse of buildings. We expect death toll to rise to 250. The situation is very catastrophic,” Red Crescent’s Kais Fhakeri told Reuters.&nbsp;

Mohamed Massoud, a spokesman for the Benghazi-based administration in Libya, said that at least 150 people have been killed due to “flooding and torrential rains left by storm Daniel in Derna, Jabal al-Akhdar region and the suburbs of Al-Marj,” as quoted by AFP.&nbsp;

Massoud said that hundreds of residents are said to be trapped and rescuers, backed by the army, are trying to come to their aid. He added that the east Libyan authorities had “lost contact with nine soldiers during rescue operations”.&nbsp;

<h2>What do we know about the damage?</h2>

Reports citing images and videos by residents in the flood-stricken areas said that parts of the country are witnessing swamping roads and some buildings were also destroyed in Derna. The storm also swept through other settlements along the coast, including Libya’s second-biggest city of Benghazi.

Some images also show massive mudslides, collapsed buildings and entire neighbourhoods submerged under muddy water, reported AFP. Images posted by Almostkbal TV show a collapsed road between Sousse and Shahat, home to the Greek-founded and UNESCO-listed archaeological site Cyrene.

“Entire neighbourhoods in Derna have disappeared, along with their residents...swept away by water,” Hamad told al-Masar TV.&nbsp;

Derna resident Saleh al-Obaidi told Reuters how he managed to flee with his family after houses in a valley near the city had collapsed. “People were asleep and woke up and found their homes surrounded by water,” he added.&nbsp;

Reuters citing witnesses said that the water level in Derna had reached three metres (10 feet).&nbsp;

<h2>Officials respond to disaster</h2>

Libya’s eastern-based parliament declared three days of mourning after the disaster. Reuters citing witnesses also said that search-and-rescue operations were ongoing and the authorities have declared a state of extreme emergency, closing schools and stores and imposing a curfew.

The United Nations in Libya said it was following the storm closely and would “provide urgent relief assistance in support of response efforts at local and national levels”.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the interim western government in Tripoli, Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, announced three days of mourning in affected cities, calling them “disaster cities” and emphasised “the unity of all Libyans” in the face of the disaster.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
 
&nbsp;

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Hundreds of people have been killed after Storm Daniel swept through the Mediterranean over the weekend, bringing strong winds and heavy floods to several countries, including Libya, over the past two days.

Hundreds of people have been killed after Storm Daniel swept through the Mediterranean over the weekend, bringing strong winds and heavy floods to several countries, including Libya, over the past two days. The death toll was not immediately clear amid conflict reports ranging from hundreds to thousands of people, said a report by Reuters, on Monday (September 11) citing senior officials. The storm in question also brought torrential rains and wreaked havoc in Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece. About the victims According to the head of the eastern Libyan government, Osama Hamad, more than 2,000 people have died in the coastal city of Derna and thousands of others were reported to be missing. However, he did not give a source for his data and the figures could not be verified independently since the country is politically split east and west with two rival administrations in charge and crumbling public services since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising. Hamad is the head of the government which is not internationally recognised and operates in the eastern regions of the country that are controlled by Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA). The head of the Red Crescent aid group in the region said Derna’s death toll was expected to rise. “We recorded at least 150 deaths (in Derna) after the collapse of buildings. We expect death toll to rise to 250. The situation is very catastrophic,” Red Crescent’s Kais Fhakeri told Reuters. Mohamed Massoud, a spokesman for the Benghazi-based administration in Libya, said that at least 150 people have been killed due to “flooding and torrential rains left by storm Daniel in Derna, Jabal al-Akhdar region and the suburbs of Al-Marj,” as quoted by AFP. Massoud said that hundreds of residents are said to be trapped and rescuers, backed by the army, are trying to come to their aid. He added that the east Libyan authorities had “lost contact with nine soldiers during rescue operations”. What do we know about the damage? Reports citing images and videos by residents in the flood-stricken areas said that parts of the country are witnessing swamping roads and some buildings were also destroyed in Derna. The storm also swept through other settlements along the coast, including Libya’s second-biggest city of Benghazi. Some images also show massive mudslides, collapsed buildings and entire neighbourhoods submerged under muddy water, reported AFP. Images posted by Almostkbal TV show a collapsed road between Sousse and Shahat, home to the Greek-founded and UNESCO-listed archaeological site Cyrene. “Entire neighbourhoods in Derna have disappeared, along with their residents...swept away by water,” Hamad told al-Masar TV. Derna resident Saleh al-Obaidi told Reuters how he managed to flee with his family after houses in a valley near the city had collapsed. “People were asleep and woke up and found their homes surrounded by water,” he added. Reuters citing witnesses said that the water level in Derna had reached three metres (10 feet). Officials respond to disaster Libya’s eastern-based parliament declared three days of mourning after the disaster. Reuters citing witnesses also said that search-and-rescue operations were ongoing and the authorities have declared a state of extreme emergency, closing schools and stores and imposing a curfew. The United Nations in Libya said it was following the storm closely and would “provide urgent relief assistance in support of response efforts at local and national levels”. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the interim western government in Tripoli, Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, announced three days of mourning in affected cities, calling them “disaster cities” and emphasised “the unity of all Libyans” in the face of the disaster. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Libya: Hundreds feared dead after Storm Daniel causes ‘catastrophic’ floods

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