BENGHAZI, Libya - At least 150 people were killed when freak floods hit eastern Libya, officials said on Monday, after storm “Daniel” swept the Mediterranean, its torrential rains earlier lashing Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece. Images filmed by residents of the Libyan disaster area showed massive mudslides, collapsed buildings and entire neighbourhoods submerged under muddy water. “At least 150 people were killed as a result of flooding and torrential rains left by storm Daniel in Derna, Jabal al-Akhdar region and the suburbs of Al-Marj,” said Mr Mohamed Massoud, a spokesman for the Benghazi-based administration in Libya. East Libyan authorities had “lost contact with nine soldiers during rescue operations”, Mr Massoud said. Mr Hamad’s government – which in war-battered Libya rivals a UN-brokered, internationally recognised transitional administration in Tripoli – on Monday declared Derna a “disaster area”.

Source: Libya Today September 11, 2023 16:08 UTC