Storm Daniel 2023

Beginning on September 4, 2023, heavy flooding occurred due to heavy rains as Hurricane Daniel hit southeastern Europe and parts of North Africa including Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Libya. The floods caused hundreds of deaths.

The beginning of the storm

A zone of low atmospheric pressure appeared over the Ionian Sea, the heat of which contributed to the production of moisture necessary for the formation of the storm. On September 4, the storm moved landward over the Balkan Peninsula bringing heavy rainfall to the region. The storm was named as "Danielle" the next day by the Greek national meteorological service. Subsequently, the storm moved towards the Northeast. On September 8, the storm acquired subtropical characteristics and moved to the southeast before becoming a tropical cyclone the next day. The storm made landfall near the city of Benghazi, Libya as a tropical storm on September 10, and then continued moving inland before degenerating into a remnant low soon due to dry air.

Storm effect

Libya

On September 9, the storm that was initially a subtropical low transitioned into a subtropical storm, with wind speeds of 45 knots (83 km / h; 52 mph) recorded by the ASCAT instrument. The storm then hit Libya on 10 September, with the national oil company announcing a three-day closure of four oil ports including: Ras Lanuf, Zueitina, Brega and Sidra.

In Derna, at least 2,700 people were confirmed dead after the collapse of two dams, which caused catastrophic damage in the region. Osama Hamada, the interim prime minister of the government of national stability, said that up to 10,000 people were suspected of death and another 8,000 were missing. Outside Derna, the storm also resulted in 40 deaths and several missing in Bayda, seven additional deaths were recorded in Sousse, another seven in the towns of Omar Mukhtar and shehat, and another death in Marj. In total, about 10,000 people have been confirmed killed in Libya.