Türkiye prepares for search and rescue operations in eastern Libya following severe storm

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) – Türkiye’s State Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) announced its readiness Monday to provide aid and launch search and rescue operations after Mediterranean Storm Daniel caused devastating floods in eastern Libya.

Following a request from the Libyan government for international aid, Türkiye is preparing to dispatch 150 search and rescue personnel for both water and land along with tents, two rescue vehicles, four boats and generators, AFAD announced on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Storm Daniel swept several areas of eastern Libya on Sunday, most notably the cities of Benghazi, Al Bayda and Al-Marj, as well as Soussa and Derna, according to an Anadolu reporter in the field.

The death toll from floods in Derna has risen above 2,000, while thousands of people are believed to be missing.

Early on Monday, the head of Libya’s Tripoli-based unity government, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, declared all areas exposed to the storm and floods “disaster zones.”

Dbeibeh also announced three days of national mourning for the flood victims.

Libyan authorities also declared a state of emergency, which included suspending classes at all public and private educational institutions and closing shops.