Libya’s General Authority for Research and Identification of Missing Persons has announced the identification of 19 previously unidentified victims of Storm Daniel, which devastated the city of Derna and parts of the Green Mountain region in September 2023. Among the newly identified victims are two Jordanian nationals.
The authority said the identifications were approved by its Scientific Committee during a recent regular meeting, following successful DNA matching processes. The results were published through the authority’s official social media channels, confirming that genetic data from the victims matched reference samples provided by their families.
According to the statement, the DNA matching effort represents part of Libya’s ongoing work to address the humanitarian aftermath of Storm Daniel, one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s modern history. The authority stressed that the process adheres to internationally recognised scientific and legal standards.
Officials confirmed that the names of the 19 identified victims have been formally referred to the Office of the Attorney General, in line with Libyan law, to complete the necessary legal and administrative procedures. A full list of the identified individuals was also released to ensure transparency.
With these latest identifications, the total number of victims whose identities have been confirmed since mid-August has risen to 130. The authority has been conducting DNA analysis for months as part of a large-scale national effort to provide answers to families still searching for missing relatives.
Earlier figures issued by the authority indicated that 3,297 people were reported missing following the floods in Derna. In January 2024, the Attorney General’s Office reported that 4,540 deaths were officially registered, including 576 foreign nationals.
Libyan authorities continue to describe the identification process as a moral and legal obligation towards the victims and their families, emphasising that work will continue until all possible cases are resolved.