A Russian rescue team has announced the successful conclusion of its mission in the flood-stricken areas of eastern Libya.
A spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said that the Russian emergency response team has, “completed its mission in Libya following instructions from Russian Minister of Emergencies, Alexander Kurenkov.”
Over the course of ten days, the rescue personnel covered an area of 610,000 square kilometers, and 108 kilometers of coastline during the search and recovery operations. They also removed approximately 2,000 cubic meters of debris.
TASS news agency reported that the Russian rescue team retrieved 153 bodies from beneath the rubble, while Russian medics assisted more than 670 individuals, including 67 children.
The agency noted that Russian divers of the Ministry of Emergencies conducted 47 dives, bringing up 17 boats and a vehicle to the surface.
The team consisted of 100 specialists, including rescue workers, divers, medics, psychologists, K-9 units, and drone operators.
Storm Daniel struck eastern Libyan cities, resulting in devastating floods and flash floods that claimed the lives of over 4,000 people, and caused extensive destruction in the city of Derna.
Last week, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that Russian divers, part of the rescue teams, have begun diving into the sea off Derna in eastern Libya, in search of the victims of the storm Daniel.
According to Russia’s RT news, the ministry stated, “Russian divers are using specialized equipment to survey the seabed, up to a depth of eight meters in a hazardous mission. The harbour waters are filled with the debris of destroyed buildings and sunken vehicles.”
The ministry emphasised the challenging working conditions for the divers, due to the accumulation of debris. “To access specific areas, they must remove the rubble, while other teams continue to comb the port’s shoreline,” it noted.
The emergency teams also continue their work in areas that require special equipment and expertise, including exploring the basements of destroyed buildings, and providing necessary support and training to Libyan rescue teams.