A deadly storm hit eastern Libya on Sunday night, causing torrential rains and floods that killed at least 150 people and damaged property and infrastructure. The storm, named Daniel, is a Mediterranean storm that is also approaching the northern coast of Egypt.
Egypt expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with Libya in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. Egypt offered its sympathy to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.
The Egyptian Meteorological Authority warned of unstable weather conditions for the next 48 hours, due to Storm Daniel approaching the northern coast. The storm is expected to start in the west of the country and extend to the north, accompanied by rainfall of varying intensity that may reach thunderstorms at intermittent intervals.
In Libya, the media advisor to the Libyan Prime Minister, Muhammad Masoud, said that at least 150 people were killed as a result of the floods and torrents left by storm Daniel in Derna, Jabal al-Akhdar, and Marj, in addition to the huge material damage that affected public and private property.
The authorities of the two governments of the country, the government mandated by the House of Representatives in Benghazi, and the government of national unity in Tripoli, have not announced any official statistics on the human losses of the storm so far.
Storm Daniel caused damage to homes, cars, buildings, and roads, as well as power outages and communication disruptions in various regions. The cities of Al-Bayda and Derna were out of control, and the telecommunications company opened its service for free to communicate and seek help.
The Libyan Red Crescent received more than 2,500 distress calls in Benghazi, Ajdabiya, Tokra, Al-Bayda, and Shahat until Monday morning.
The Director of the Al-Bayda Ambulance and Emergency Service Office, Ibrahim Boulhassia, said that there were distress calls from families stuck in their homes and surrounded by floods. He said that electricity was cut off in most of the neighborhoods of Al-Bayda, causing weak communications. He said that Al-Bayda was isolated as a result of the floods and heavy rains.
The cities of Benghazi, Al-Marj, Al-Bayda, Shahat, Sousse, and Derna, and some surrounding areas in eastern Libya witnessed heavy rains and increased wind speed due to storm Daniel passing through the region. The storm caused many valleys to flood.
