For the third consecutive day, southwestern Libya has been hit by heavy rains, which have turned into floods sweeping down from the Tasilly and Akakus mountain ranges into neighboring urban areas.
Hassan Othman Issa, the official spokesperson for the Ghat Emergency Room, reported that floods have reached the Juwfari area in the Al-Barkat municipality, prompting local authorities to evacuate families from the region.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Issa stated that the armed forces and rescue teams responded immediately to a distress call from the village of Tazrouk, near the Algerian border. He mentioned that the southern valley near Esin is nearly full, and monitoring stations are closely tracking the floodwaters’ movement.
Rainwater accumulated within residential neighborhoods in Ghat due to the adverse weather conditions from the previous evening, leading authorities to urge caution for motorists. Issa also noted that material losses were reported in Tehala due to rising water levels, resulting in further displacement of families following the heavy rains last night.
Shibani Mohammed Ali, a representative of the Tehala Youth Movement, has called for urgent aid to be provided to the more than 150 displaced families in the municipality, who are in dire need of food and shelter.
Ali told Sky News Arabia that the floods have submerged homes and destroyed property, including the main hospital and the municipal headquarters.
On Friday, the Tehala municipal council declared the town a “disaster area” after the floods ravaged residential neighborhoods, appealing to all relevant authorities to assist the municipality.
The Libyan National Army’s General Command has deployed military reinforcements to the area to help rescue families trapped by the floods. The government appointed by the House of Representatives, led by Prime Minister Osama Hammad, has formed an emergency response committee to address the effects of the severe weather on the Ghat Basin area. Additionally, medical teams and security reinforcements have been sent to the affected regions to assist in the ongoing rescue efforts.
