ALBAWABA - Heavy storms and strong rainfall hit the Libyan shores as Storm Daniel hammers through the cities of Benghazi, Al-Marj, and Derna among other Libyan territories.
As the Mediterranean Storm Daniel advances into the area, the Benghazi Municipal Council has imposed a two-day curfew beginning at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, September 9, and lasting until Monday, September 10.
Authorities have also ordered the evacuation of many neighborhoods in the city, particularly those in low-lying areas bordering streams and valleys.
Libyan Interim Prime Minister and Head of Government of National Unity in Tripoli Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that: "I directed all state agencies, ministries and institutions; To deal immediately and quickly with the torrents resulting from the disaster that is passing through the cities of our beloved east. We will dedicate our efforts to protect, relieve our people, and mitigate the damage caused by these torrents and rains".
"I directed the heads of the electricity, water, sanitation, and public services companies in Tripoli and Misrata, the Military Medical Service, and the Emergency Medicine and Support Center; to transport their teams, equipment, and necessary materials to the municipalities of the Eastern Region and coordinating with the competent authorities; To provide the necessary support, convoys will depart successively, God willing" Dbeibeh added.
Footage posted on social media showed scenes of heavy rain in the city of Al-Marj, while the Managing Council of the Municipality of Al-Marj stated that the work of rescuing families trapped in their homes due to the rain was still ongoing and that opening rainwater runoff tracks had been underway since the early morning hours.
Additionally, footage from Benghazi showed that the storm had hit almost all of its districts, with buildings and trees tumbling and causing significant damage to people's properties.
Storm Daniel is expected to also hit the Egyptian shores as the Egyptian Meteorological Authority stated: "The storm is now heading toward the Egyptian shores, and is expected to affect the cities of El Salloum, Siwa Oasis and Marsa Matruh early Monday morning then reach Alexandria by the end of the day".
