Towns in Western Libya Are Flooded by Torrential Rainfall, And the PM Orders Rescue

Overnight on Friday, torrential rains severely flooded a number of villages in western Libya, shutting off running water and electricity and trapping residents in mudslides. According to his office, Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah ordered authorities to organise resources in the affected districts immediately “to ensure a rapid response”.

Social media users shared videos and pictures of people stuck in cars or attempting to flee the mudflows. Municipal spokesman Omar Kachaka told a local television channel that the floods in Mizda, a town of less than 30,000 people in a semi-desert region south of Tripoli where heavy rainfall is rare, caused “a widespread power outage after numerous electricity poles fell” in addition to other damage and landslides.

In the Bani Walid region, which is roughly 170 kilometres (105 miles) south of Tripoli, rescue crews attempted to release locals who were stuck in cars that the mudflows had carried away. The mayor of Nasmah town, located roughly 150 kilometres south of Tripoli, Ahmed al-Sid, declared the municipality a disaster zone because of significant damage from the rain and overflowing wadis. In a statement, Dbeibah ordered authorities to clear roads and restore electricity, drinking water, and telecommunications while closely monitoring the situation.

Also Read:

Sophie Vancaeneghem On Customer Experience And Hospitality Industry Trends

Aubrey Heldt On The Future Of Corporate Travel And Tourism