Storm Daniel, which caused deadly floods and landslides in several European countries last week, has continued its destructive path in North Africa, leaving at least 150 people dead and hundreds missing in Libya and triggering a state of emergency in Egypt.
The storm, which originated in the Atlantic Ocean, moved eastward across Europe, bringing record rainfall and causing rivers to overflow their banks. It affected the United Kingdom, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania and Switzerland. At least 12 people were killed, and dozens were injured in these countries.
The storm then reached Libya over the weekend, where it unleashed torrential rains and flash floods that devastated the eastern region of the country. The worst-hit areas were the cities of Derna and Al-Marj and the Jabal al-Akhdar mountain range. According to Mohamed Massoud, a spokesperson for the Benghazi-based administration in Libya, over 150 people died, and up to 1,300 people were unaccounted for as of Monday.
The flooding also damaged infrastructure, agriculture, and oil facilities in Libya, which has been divided between two rival governments since 2014. The prime minister of the internationally recognized government in Tripoli, Abdulhamid Dbeiba, said he had ordered all state agencies to deal with the crisis and offered condolences to the victims. The United Nations in Libya said it followed the situation closely and would provide urgent relief assistance.
Storm Daniel also hit Egypt on Monday, where it caused heavy rains and strong winds in several governorates. The Egyptian authorities declared a state of extreme emergency and urged people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. The storm disrupted traffic, power supply, and communication networks and damaged buildings and crops. No casualties have been reported so far.
Climate scientists have warned that global warming makes extreme weather events like Storm Daniel more likely and intense. A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall and flooding. They also say that human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and poor land management increase the risk of landslides and soil erosion.
Storm Daniel is not the first to cause havoc in Africa this year. In March, Tropical Cyclone Eloise killed at least 21 people and displaced thousands in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and South Africa. In May, Tropical Cyclone Tauktae killed over 150 people and affected millions in India and Pakistan.
Source: BBC News Africa
