Devastating Storm and Flooding in Libya: 3,123 Lives Lost, Including 123 Soldiers, with 10,000 Still Missing

On September 9th, Hurricane Daniel struck Libya, resulting in the deaths of 3,000 people. According to various media reports, between 7,000 to 10,000 individuals are still missing. Only 700 bodies have been recovered so far, and identifying them remains a challenge.

123 soldiers are among the casualties, with 12 confirmed deaths. The biggest hurdle is the country’s preferred airports, where heavy cargo aircraft cannot land. This makes delivering aid extremely difficult.

This image of the city of Benghazi has been released by the Libyan government. Due to past conflicts, 283 buildings in this city have been damaged, resulting in the deaths of 147 people.

According to reports from “The Guardian” and “Al Arab Monitor,” the situation in eastern Libya remains out of control. As of now, within just 24 hours, the death toll has risen from 700 to over 3,000 due to past conflicts. The number of missing individuals has also surged, with over 10,000 people unaccounted for as of Monday and Tuesday.

The city of Derna is heavily affected as well, with both dams having collapsed, leading to severe flooding throughout the city. In this city alone, there have been 700 casualties. The situation is so dire that there is not enough space to bury the deceased.

Libya has stated that the condition of many of its airports is poor, and large cargo aircraft cannot land there. Currently, Turkey has successfully delivered some relief supplies to the region.

Health Minister Abdul Jalil has stated that the death toll has reached 3,000. He acknowledges that at times we are counting the deceased, but it is challenging to ascertain the true extent, which could potentially reach 10,000. Additionally, more than one million people could be displaced. The situation is extremely difficult.

Reaching many areas is impossible. The Health Minister stated that the situation in the Derna region is so dire that even though efforts have been made to reach many places, it’s still not possible to access them. Therefore, it’s challenging to estimate the extent of the damage to the land. In many areas, bodies can be seen floating in water. Many homes have been swept away, leading to fears of disease outbreaks. It seems that around 25% of the city of Derna has been destroyed.

Jalil further mentioned that when the final figures come in, the world may be astonished. Such a dire situation hasn’t been witnessed since 1959. Many countries around the world have offered assistance, but it remains uncertain how they will be able to provide help since neither the airports are secure nor the roads.

Since 2011, Libya has been without a stable government. There is ongoing conflict among the locals, making it extremely challenging to stabilize the situation fully.

Since 2011, Libya has been divided into two factions. The former ruler, Muammar Gaddafi, was killed in 2011, leading to the division of Libya into two distinct regions. There are two separate governments or authorities operating in different parts of the country. One group consists of Gaddafi loyalists, and the other is indigenous. Tripoli and Tobruk regions are under the control of private militias or indigenous groups, where many people have lost their lives.

According to a report from “Al Arab,” no roads have been built in Libya since 2011. Currently, Turkey has sent a medical team of 84 individuals and some medicines to Benghazi city.

As per UN reports, the situation in Libya remains concerning, and emergency plans are being devised. Assistance from other countries will be required to fully address the situation. An official has stated that the condition in Libya is similar to what was witnessed shortly after the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria a few months ago.