The Libyan Ambulance and Emergency Services announced a state of high alert in the municipalities of Bani Walid, Tarhuna, and Al-Tarshan, in northwestern Libya.
This came in response to the Dinar Valley flooding between Tarhuna and Bani Walid due to heavy rains in the area.
The agency urged residents and road users to exercise caution due to the high likelihood of adverse weather conditions.
As a proactive measure, the agency deployed emergency teams from its Bani Walid branch on major roads adjacent to the valley, ready to deal with any emergencies arising from the harsh weather conditions.
On 10 September 2023, a devastating storm swept through several eastern regions of Libya, notably the cities of Derna, Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Al-Marj, and Sousse. This resulted in significant destruction and led to the loss of thousands of lives, injuries, and missing individuals.
In March, World Bank, the United Nations (UN), and the European Union (EU) released a report marking six months since Storm Daniel struck eastern Libya in September last year.
The report indicates that the disaster affected approximately 1.5 million people, equivalent to 22% of Libya’s population.
Estimates suggest that the recovery and reconstruction needs following the catastrophic floods caused by the storm amount to around $1.8 billion.
The housing sector suffered the most significant damage, with over 18,500 residential units destroyed or damaged, representing 7% of Libya’s total housing units.
According to the World Bank, approximately 44,000 individuals, including 16,000 children, were displaced as a result of the storm.
In January, the Libyan Attorney General, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, announced the results of investigations into the disaster of Storm Daniel. The storm claimed the lives of thousands in eastern Libya.
The investigations into the disaster in Derna revealed “negligence in maintaining the city’s dams,” characterised by the “absence of an alarm system in both dams and neglect of cleaning operations for upper openings, as well as routine maintenance.”
The total number of recorded deaths due to the floods in Derna has reached 4,540 people, including 3,964 Libyans and 576 foreigners.
