NEWS
Devastating Flood In Libya Claims Over 150 Lives, Thousands Missing
The Red Cross has issued a warning that the death toll from the unusual floods in eastern Libya is projected to increase significantly, with reports of 10,000 people missing.
Libyan authorities have confirmed a minimum of 150 fatalities resulting from the abrupt flooding that occurred on Sunday afternoon, caused by storm Daniel as it swept across the Mediterranean and impacted Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey.
The storm had a severe impact on the coastal town of Jabal al-Akhdar in eastern Libya.
Additionally, Benghazi was significantly affected, leading to the declaration of a curfew and the closure of schools for several days in the area.
However, Tamer Ramadan from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) indicated that the true toll is expected to be considerably higher than the reported numbers.
He said “Our teams on the ground are still doing their assessment (but) from what we see and from the news coming to us, the death toll is huge,” he told reporters in Geneva via video link from Tunis.
“It might reach to the thousands,” he said in English. “We don’t have a definite number right now.”
Independent sources had told the IFRC the number reported missing was “hitting 10,000 persons so far”.
“The humanitarian needs are much more beyond the abilities of the Libyan Red Crescent and even the abilities of the government.
“That’s why the government in the east has issued an international appeal for support,”
He added that the IFRC was also preparing to launch an emergency appeal for funds towards the response.
Margaret Harris, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization, characterized the situation in Libya as “a calamity of epic proportions.”
Experts have also noted that storm Daniel, responsible for at least 27 fatalities in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey over the past few days, is considered “extreme” due to the exceptionally high volume of rainfall within a 24-hour period.
During an appearance on the Libyan network Almasar, Oussama Hamad, the prime minister of the east-based government, stated that in the city of Derna alone, there were “more than 2,000 dead and thousands missing.”
Hamad’s government, which competes with the UN-brokered, internationally recognized transitional administration in Tripoli, has officially declared Derna as a “disaster area.”
Although these figures have not been confirmed by medical sources or emergency services, Tamer Ramadan expressed that it seems “very likely that the number declared by the eastern official could be close to the correct number.”
Tamer Ramadan expressed hope that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) would be able to provide a more accurate assessment of the disaster’s toll later on Tuesday.
Additionally, the UN’s Organization for Migration has raised concerns regarding the potential impact of the flooding on the already vulnerable migrant population in the country.
In a shocking incident on Sunday morning, unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers invaded the home of Alhaji Auwal, a prominent businessman, in Garo Town, Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State.
The gunmen, estimated to be around 10 in number, forced their way into the residence, breaking down a door to gain entry.
An anonymous source revealed that the attackers were heavily armed, with three carrying firearms and the rest wielding other weapons.
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They quickly gathered the entire family in one room, instilling fear and panic in the household.
According to the source, Alhaji Auwal pleaded with the assailants to spare his family and agreed to meet their demands.
The kidnappers, who were determined to extort money, received ₦8 million from the family.
Despite this payment, the gunmen took the businessman’s eldest daughter, Zainab, a secondary school graduate, before fleeing the scene.
The whereabouts of Zainab remain unknown, and as of now, the kidnappers have not contacted the family.
This abduction comes just 48 hours after the tragic kidnapping and subsequent murder of former Gombe State Permanent Secretary, Atiku Mu’azu, who was killed by gunmen after a ₦10 million ransom was paid.
The two incidents have left the residents of Kano in shock and fear, prompting calls for increased security measures in the area.
Attempts to reach the spokesperson for the Kano Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, for comment were unsuccessful as his phone remained unreachable.
Authorities have yet to make any official statements regarding the investigation.
In a bold move, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared on Sunday that he would not allow US deportation flights carrying Colombian migrants to access his country’s airspace.
The left-wing leader took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his strong stance, stating, “The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I forbid entry to our territory to US planes carrying Colombian migrants.”
Petro made it clear that such flights would only be accepted once Washington established a protocol to ensure the “dignified treatment” of deported migrants.
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The president later confirmed in a separate post that he had already turned back US military planes that were en route with Colombian migrants on board, although he did not provide further specifics on the matter.
While AFP sought confirmation from US authorities regarding the blockade of deportation flights, no immediate response was forthcoming.
Petro’s statements come just a day after Brazil’s government voiced similar outrage over the treatment of deported Brazilians.
Brazil condemned the US administration under President Donald Trump, citing instances where Brazilian migrants were deported while handcuffed on flights, describing it as a “flagrant disregard” for their basic rights.
In his remarks, Petro emphasized that he would be open to allowing civilian US flights to transport deported migrants as long as they were not subjected to treatment “like criminals,” signaling a broader call for humane treatment of migrants under international deportation policies.
An explosion at a mining site in Sabon Pegi, Mashegun Local Government Area of Niger State, claimed the lives of four individuals and left several others injured on Sunday morning.
The blast occurred as miners resumed operations, sending shockwaves through the community.
While the exact cause of the explosion remains undetermined, local residents have pointed to the poor handling of explosive devices by mining companies as a possible factor.
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The incident has sparked concerns about safety practices within the mining sector.
Community sources confirmed the recovery of four bodies, but authorities fear the death toll could rise.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the blast and assess the full extent of the damage.
One resident, Aminu, described the chaos that followed the explosion. “The sound was so loud that many of us thought it came from the hydroelectricity dam nearby. People panicked and ran into the bush for safety,” he recounted.
Another community member highlighted the potential role of mining operations in the tragedy.
“Mining companies here frequently use explosives during their activities, and this seems like an operational issue, not something related to terrorism,” the resident said, dismissing concerns about a security threat in the area.
As of the time of reporting, neither the state government nor security agencies have released an official statement regarding the explosion.
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