.
The UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has directed to send urgent relief aid and search and rescue teams to Libya to support its efforts in mitigating the repercussions of the floods caused by Storm Daniel, which resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, and caused severe damage.
Sheikh Mohamed expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to the State of Libya, its people and the families of the victims of this tragedy, wishing a speedy recovery for all the injured.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic flooding in Libya. The people of the UAE extend their sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, and we wish a speedy recovery to all those that were injured.”
Catastrophic storm
Authorities in eastern Libya said at least 2,000 people were killed and thousands more were missing after a massive flood ripped through the city of Derna following a heavy storm and rain.
The head of the Red Crescent aid group in the region had earlier on Monday said Derna’s death toll was at 150 and expected to hit 250. Reuters could not independently verify either figure.
Ahmed Mismari, the spokesperson for the Libyan National Army (LNA) that controls eastern Libya, said in a televised news conference that the disaster came after dams above Derna had collapsed, “sweeping whole neighbourhoods with their residents into the sea”. Mismari put the number of missing at 5,000-6,000.
ALSO READ:
- Video: 150 killed in freak floods in Libya as powerful storm Daniel rolls through
- UAE expresses solidarity with Libya, offers condolences over storm victims
- Driving 790km to deliver food, setting up tents for survivors: Moroccan citizens step in to help quake victims
- 83 injured as heaviest rain hits Hong Kong in 140 years
