Government sources and witnesses revealed on Monday that a powerful hurricane from the Mediterranean Sea struck eastern Libya, causing damage to several homes and roads, resulting in the deaths of 150 individuals. Footage circulated on social media showed people standing on their car roofs, seeking help after being stranded due to floods that swept through the cities of Benghazi, Soussa, Al Bayda, Al Marj, and Derna. Authorities declared a state of maximum emergency, closed schools and businesses, and imposed a curfew as the hurricane made landfall on Sunday and today, Monday. A terrifying scene unfolded as Hurricane "Daniel" reached the Libyan shores.
Two engineers working in the oil sector told Reuters that four major oil ports in Libya—Ras Lanuf, Zueitina, Brega, and Sidra—were closed as of Saturday evening for three days. The Prime Minister of the National Unity Government in Tripoli, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, stated on Sunday that he had directed all state agencies to "immediately address" the damage and floods in the eastern cities. The United Nations mission in Libya announced that it is closely monitoring the developments of the storm and will provide "urgent relief assistance to support response efforts at the local and national levels."
