Players from European national teams observed a minute of silence before their matches to mourn the victims of the Libyan storm and Moroccan earthquake, which claimed the lives of thousands of people.
Numerous European clubs also expressed their condolences and solidarity with Libya.
“UEFA will observe a minute of silence in all upcoming matches for national teams and clubs until the end of the following week, mourning the victims of the floods in Libya and the earthquake in Morocco,” it tweeted.
The organisation further stated that “the hearts of European football are with the people of Libya and Morocco during these difficult times.”
The devastating storm Daniel resulted in the death of over 6,000 individuals in the Libyan city of Derna alone, with expectations that the death toll could rise to 10,000 alongside significant material losses.
In a separate development, according to the latest data from the Moroccan Ministry of Interior, the earthquake claimed the lives of over 2,900 people, and injured 5,530, in addition to causing extensive material damage.
Prominent football clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Liverpool are among those showing solidarity with the victims.
On Sunday evening, regions in eastern Libya experienced intense floods, leading to numerous deaths and disappearances. Homes were submerged, and significant infrastructure damage was observed due to the Mediterranean storm, Daniel.
The storm caused devastating floods in Libya that destroyed dams, and swept away entire neighbourhoods in multiple coastal towns in the east of the nation.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) announced on Tuesday that over 10,000 people remain missing due to the floods, and deluge witnessed in Libya over the past two days. The organisation anticipates a significant increase in the death toll.
AFP quoted Tariq Ramadan, an official from the organisation, saying, “The death count is massive, and could reach thousands. Independent sources confirm that the number of missing individuals stands at 10,000 so far.”
Since a 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed long-time ruler Muammer Gaddafi, Libya has lacked a central government and the resulting lawlessness has meant dwindling investment in the country’s roads and public services, and also minimal regulation of private buildings. The country is now split between rival governments in the east and west, each backed by an array of militias.