Flooding in Western Libya Disrupts Power and Water Supplies

Torrential rains have caused severe flooding across several towns in western Libya, disrupting electricity and running water and trapping residents in mudflows.

Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah ordered authorities to immediately mobilise resources in the affected areas, according to his office. He was also reported to be closely monitoring the situation and directed officials to clear roads and restore electricity, drinking water and telecommunications.

Rescue operations under way

Rescue teams in the Bani Walid area worked to free residents whose vehicles were swept away by mudflows. Videos and images from the affected areas showed people trapped in vehicles and others attempting to escape torrents of mud.

The Bani Walid area is about 170 kilometres south of Tripoli.

In Mizda, municipal spokesman Omar Kachaka said numerous electricity poles had fallen, resulting in a widespread power outage. He also reported other damage and landslides in the town.

Mizda, a semi-desert town south of Tripoli with a population of fewer than 30,000 people, does not commonly experience heavy rainfall.

Nasmah declared disaster zone

Ahmed al-Sid, mayor of Nasmah, said the municipality had been declared a disaster zone because of extensive damage caused by rain and overflowing wadis. Nasmah is located about 150 kilometres south of Tripoli.

The flooding occurred overnight Friday. Authorities had not confirmed any deaths at the time of the report, and no official total was available for residents affected, injured or displaced.