Mediterranean storm Daniel caused deadly flooding in many eastern towns, but the worst-hit was Derna. Mohammed Abu-Lamousha, a spokesman for the east Libya interior ministry, on Tuesday put the death tally in Derna at more than 5,300, according to the state-run news agency. Dozens of others were reported dead in other towns in eastern Libya, he said. He said 40,000 people have been displaced in Derna and other towns affected by the floods in eastern Libya. It is controlled by the forces of powerful military commander Khalifa Hifter, who is allied with the east Libya government.

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Libya hit by catastrophic flooding Rescuers in eastern Libya have uncovered more than 1,000 victims after devastating floods from a powerful storm, an official said. The Red Cross says around 10,000 people are missing.

CAIRO – 13 September 2023: Egypt’s Minister of Immigration Soha Gendi, affirmed on Wednesday that the evacuation process for Egyptian expats from Libya will be continuing until ensuring that all Egyptians have returned. She added in televised statements, that it is possible that Egyptians could have died and be buried in Libya without knowing their identities and nationalities. Ambassador Gendi added, that there are 1,500 people who were buried in Libya in the wake of the hurricane, without knowing their identities, nationalities, or anything about them. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has said that it is following up the effects of Mediterranean Storm Daniel, which hit some Libyan cities and regions, leaving thousands dead or missing, including a number of Egyptian expats. The ministry extended heartfelt condolences to all families of the victims.

Officials fear the death toll could exceed 5,000 in the nation made vulnerable by years of turmoil and neglect.The flooding caused significant infrastructure damage in the coastal city of Derna and displaced at least 30,000 people, the U.N. migration agency said. As the storm pounded the coast Sunday night, Derna residents said they heard loud explosions when the dams outside the city collapsed. “The human toll is enormous.”Local emergency responders, including troops, government workers, volunteers and residents, continued digging through rubble looking for the dead. Dozens of others were reported dead in other towns in eastern Libya, he said.Authorities have transferred hundreds of bodies to morgues in nearby towns. It is controlled by the forces of powerful military commander Khalifa Hifter, who is allied with the east Libya government.

Sacramento Libyan community doing what they can to help after devastating floodsSacramento Libyan community doing what they can to help after devastating floodsSacramento Libyan community doing what they can to help after devastating floodsSACRAMENTO -- Floodwaters devastated the North African country of Libya, leaving thousands of people dead and missing. Now the Sacramento Libyan community is responding and trying to raise funds to help their loved ones in the disaster zone. The catastrophic flooding was caused by the Mediterranean's Storm Daniel, which dumped 6 to 9 inches of rain across most of eastern Libya. Kamal Sherkasi, a board member with the Libyan-American Organization in Sacramento, said the infrastructure in Libya is very old. Now, the Sacramento Libyan community is trying to help by setting up fundraisers to send back supplies and money to those impacted.

Many were swept out into the sea, with bodies later washing up on beaches littered with debris and car wrecks. The confirmed death toll reached 3,840 by Wednesday afternoon, said Lieutenant Tarek al-Kharraz, spokesman for the eastern-based government’s interior ministry. Tamer Ramadan of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Tuesday “the death toll is huge” and is likely to grow. Rescue effortRescue teams from Turkey have arrived in eastern Libya, authorities said, and Algeria, France, Italy, Qatar and Tunisia also pledged to help. Hurricane-strength Mediterranean storms such as Daniel — which earlier hit Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece — are known as “medicanes” which can gain strength as warmer air absorbs more moisture.

Pope Francis used his weekly audience to pray for the victims of the flooding in Libya and for the people of Morocco hit by a deadly earthquake. Let us pray for Morocco, let us pray for the inhabitants that the Lord will give them the strength to recover after this terrible 'ambush' they have been through." However, the rugged terrain of the Atlas Mountains has posed considerable challenges for the rescue teams in their mission. In addition, the disaster has made the already narrow roads impassable, making it difficult for relief teams to reach the earthquake-stricken population. The tragic earthquake was the strongest and deadliest quake to hit Morocco in decades, according to the US Geological Survey.

Aid groups rush to Libya after catastrophic floodingMore information is emerging about the vast scale and loss of life in Libya as aid groups begin arriving after the storm and catastrophic flooding. A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:Officials in Libya say the bodies of more than 2,000 people have been recovered in the city of Derna. LEILA FADEL, HOST:A storm devastated towns and cities along the coast of northeastern Libya. RUTH SHERLOCK, BYLINE: Well, you know, A, how bad this is is really becoming clear just now, days after the storm. And he called the scale of the damage epic and said it's like nothing Libya has seen in its modern history.

Libya has been hit by catastrophic floods caused by the Mediterranean storm, Daniel. The storm led to the collapse of two dams near the coastal city of Derna, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. As of September 13, over 5,200 people have been confirmed dead, with at least 10,000 still missing. The floods have wiped out nearly a quarter of Derna, a city home to around 100,000 people. However, international aid organizations, including Islamic Relief Worldwide and the International Rescue Committee, are working tirelessly to provide assistance.

Up First briefing: Biden impeachment inquiry; Libya flood; ineffective decongestantsGood morning. Today's top storiesHouse Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced a formal impeachment inquiry into President Biden yesterday. McCarthy said Biden "used his official office to coordinate with Hunter Biden's business partners about Hunter's role in Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company." How he navigates the impeachment inquiry and potential government shutdown will dominate the Capitol in the following weeks. He tells NPR's Ruth Sherlock that the scale of the disaster is "epic" and unlike anything Libya has seen in modern history.

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As of Tuesday evening, half of the more than 1,500 recovered corpses had been buried, as per the health minister for eastern Libya. The catastrophe struck Derna and other parts of eastern Libya on Sunday night. Videos shared by residents online depicted extensive areas of mud and wreckage where neighborhoods on both riverbanks had been swept away. Multi-story apartment buildings previously set back from the river saw their facades torn off, and concrete floors crumbled. Humanitarian aid and rescue teams from Egypt, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates also arrived in Benghazi, and several other countries pledged assistance.

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Three Libyan Red Crescent volunteers died as they attempted to assist people in the path of the torrents unleashed by the downpours and subsequent collapse of two dams that swept away entire neighbourhoods. Communication lines and power networks are down in Derna and elsewhere, and pictures shared by the Libyan Red Crescent show submerged cars, collapsed buildings, and tsunami-like floodwater smashing through urban areas. Red Crescent teams and volunteers were the first on the ground, evacuating people and providing first aid and search and rescue. Storm Daniel has added “another layer of complexity to compounded crises” in Libya, the IFRC adds. (Photo: Libyan Red Crescent via IFRC)