Libya: floods lead to panic and a state of emergency
A state of emergency has been declared in some local towns in eastern Libya as heavy rainfall floods several cities according to Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies.
Libya has experienced two days of heavy rainfall and flooding in Al Bayda city, Sousse and Shahat on the 13h and 14th of January.
As streets are flooding, panic is rising as civilians struggle to keep the water out from their homes. The head of Libya’s parliament-appointed government, Osama Hammad, has ordered emergency services to take the necessary measures to protect and rescue citizens that are stranded.
On Sunday the 14th of January, the ambulance and emergency services began rescuing families who were stranded by the floods. Due to the heavy rains, Shahat deployed its teams as the city declared a state of emergency.
The city of Al Bayda was described as “submerged by floods” since Saturday the 13th by the municipal council as they addressed the government of Hammand and Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the commander-in-chief of the Libyan army.
Many citizens within those cities are struck with fear due to the similarities to storm Daniel, where flooding and strong hurricanes tore through eastern Libya, which left thousands missing and 6,000 people dead in September 2023.
READ: Libya Flood: 6,000 dead, 10,000 missing, neighbourhoods gone
Hammad gave orders for the interior and Local Governance ministries to raise the maximum level of preparedness and to coordinate with relevant government bodies to ease the suffering of citizens following the flooding in the Green Mountain region of Al Bayda city.
Authorities are urged to find quick and effective solutions to overcome this disaster and restore a normality to civilians within these cities, as directed by the municipal council.
Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies
