Emergency teams in eastern Libya have carried out a successful evacuation of several families in the town of Al-Abyar after a powerful dust storm caused widespread damage and blocked key roads.
The Libyan Red Crescent’s Al-Abyar branch announced on Tuesday that it had rescued a family trapped inside their home after falling trees collapsed onto the building amid the intense storm sweeping across the region. No fatalities were reported, but the incident highlighted the severity of the weather conditions.
In a coordinated operation, Ambulance and Emergency Services, working alongside the Al-Malyitaniya Operations Room, also evacuated seven additional families from damaged houses and helped remove debris and fallen trees obstructing main roads. Volunteers on duty at the Al-Malyitaniya Hospital Emergency Room were mobilized to provide medical and logistical support to affected residents.
The Libyan Red Crescent warned that the vital Al-Fayturiya–Ghout Al-Sultan road has been completely closed due to fallen trees and poor visibility, urging motorists to avoid the route and exercise extreme caution.
As severe weather continues to impact eastern Libya, the Benghazi Security Directorate issued an urgent appeal for residents to remain indoors and avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Authorities stressed that driving conditions are extremely dangerous due to strong winds, dust, and limited visibility, calling on citizens to follow safety instructions to prevent injuries and further losses.
Meteorological services have forecast that the dust storm and accompanying strong winds may persist, potentially disrupting transport, electricity networks, and daily life across several cities in Cyrenaica, including Benghazi, Al-Abyar, Al-Marj, and surrounding areas.
