1. Egypt flies medical supplies to Libyapublished at 18:17 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    We've been hearing that medical supplies from Egypt have been flown to the Libyan city of Benghazi to help survivors of the floods.

    Another Egyptian plane is on hand to help evacuate some of the many injured across the storm-stricken region.

    Libya's Tripoli-based, internationally recognised government has announced that it's to give more than $400m (£320m) to help rebuild Derna and Benghazi.

  2. WATCH: Panoramic view shows scale of Derna's destructionpublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    As we've been reporting, the damage caused by floodwater in Derna has been extensive throughout the Libyan port city.

    This short 10 second video clip, which has been authenticated by BBC Verify, reveals how rows of multi-storey buildings have been reduced to rubble.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Buildings swept away by floodwaters in Derna

  3. BBC Verify

    Mapping the damage in Dernapublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    Google earth map of DernaImage source, Google
    Image caption,

    The school as seen by satellite before the floodwaters struck

    Amid the images and video emerging from the Libyan city of Derna, some reveal quite starkly the extent of the damage.

    We checked a widely shared video of the Al-Fatah school after the flood with available satellite imagery of this location from before.

    An area we estimate to be about 40m (44 yards) from the edge of school grounds to the river was completely swept away.

    Part of the school building was also badly damaged, although the main building still stands.

    Image of school hit by flood
    Image caption,

    The school area as seen after the floodwaters surged past

    The Al-Sahaba mosque further downstream was also badly affected - at this point, the force of the water would have been even greater.

    The front yard of the mosque - about 80m from the river - was swept away, although the mosque itself appears intact.

    Video footage of the aftermath shows vast areas on both sides of the mosque flattened.

  4. 'Deeply concerned' UN mobilising emergency teamspublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    The UN's representative for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, Martin Griffiths, has said he is "deeply concerned" by the deadly floods.

    He has announced that UN emergency teams are being mobilised to help on the ground.

    "Our thoughts are with the affected people," he writes on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also offers her "deepest condolences".

    "The EU is by your side in this tragedy," she adds.

  5. What's the latest?published at 17:11 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    A car is upturned in the middle of a street littered with debris and caked with mudImage source, Reuters

    The scale of devastation is becoming clearer as aid starts to arrive in Libya. Here's what we know so far:

    • A catastrophic storm has brought torrential rain to Libya, with more than 2,300 people dead in subsequent flooding
    • Estimates suggest more than 10,000 people are missing
    • Parts of the port city of Derna were flattened after rain caused two dams to collapse and sent a tsunami-like surge of water hurtling into the city
    • More than 1,000 bodies have been recovered in Derna alone and a large part of the city has been swept into the sea
    • The disaster response has been criticised for being too slow due to two competing governments who have been vying for power for over a decade
    • Aid has been sent from Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Algeria, Italy and the UAE
  6. 'I couldn't reach my family for 48 hours'published at 17:00 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    Libyan journalist Noura Eljerbi has told the BBC that she is still waiting to speak to her family.

    “I have like 35 family members in the same building, it’s an apartment building, and I couldn’t reach them for around 48 hours. Even now I haven’t reached them," she explains.

    "I reached out to the rescue team when they went to the place and they checked the house has been destroyed but my family managed to get out before things got worse. They are safe now," she says.

    "I have one auntie still missing with her son - we don’t have any news about her,” Noura adds.

    Nura has also highlighted a shortage of food, medical help and clothes.

  7. WATCH: Floodwaters tear through streets of Dernapublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    In Derna, a Libyan port city where the death toll estimate currently stands at more than 1,500, floodwaters have submerged cars and made it impossible for people to get around the streets.

    This short video shows the extent of the damage throughout the city:

  8. Egyptian military delegation arrives to offer aidpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    Devastated street scene in Derna, September 12Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Aid is needed to help Derna recover from a devastating storm that destroyed much of the Libyan port

    Egypt has sent a military delegation to Libya to offer what a spokesperson has described as "support and solidarity with the brotherly Libyan people", BBC Monitoring reports.

    Headed by Egypt's army chief of staff Lt Gen Osama Askar, the group will operate an airlift, starting with three aircraft carrying medical aid and foodstuff as well as rescue teams. Another aircraft will help transport people killed or injured in the storm.

    The spokesperson posted pictures on Facebook showing the delegation being welcomed by several Libyan military commanders, including Khalifa Haftar, commander of the east-based Libyan National Army.

    In another statement, the military spokesperson said Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi had directed his armed forces to "offer all types of humanitarian support including medical teams, rescue equipment and makeshift camps".

  9. In pictures: See the extent of the flood destructionpublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    The extent of the devastating damage is still being surveyed after widespread flooding and mudslides caused by torrential rain in Libya.

    The worst-affected place is the port of Derna, much of which is under water after two dams and four bridges collapsed.

    People are stuck on a road as a powerful storm and heavy rainfall hit Shahhat city in LibyaImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    This road became impassable after heavy rainfall hit Shahhat, a town in north-eastern Libya

    General view of flood water covering the area as a powerful storm and heavy rainfall hit Al-Mukhaili, LibyaImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    The extent of the widespread flooding can be seen here at Al-Mukhaili

    Overturned car on a washed out roadImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Washed-out roads and upturned vehicles have been the norm as the storm hit

    Aerial view of Al-Mukhaili buildings with flood waterImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Water flooded through houses and public buildings, like here at Al-Mukhaili

  10. 'Two governments slowing down help'published at 15:43 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    A building in ruinsImage source, AFP
    Image caption,

    In July last year, protesters stormed Libya's eastern parliament over the political deadlock

    Libya has been in political chaos since long-serving ruler Col Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011.

    His death left the nation effectively split with an interim, internationally recognised government operating from the capital (Tripoli) and another one not internationally recognised in the east.

    According to Libyan journalist Abdulkader Assad, this is hampering rescue efforts.

    "There are no rescue teams, there are no trained rescuers in Libya. Everything over the last 12 years was about war," Assad told the BBC.

    "There are two governments in Libya... and that is actually slowing down the help that is coming to Libya because it's a little bit confusing. You have people who are pledging help but the help is not coming," he said.

    • Read more about this story here
  11. Storm Daniel travelled across Mediterranean from Greecepublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    Matt Taylor
    BBC Weather

    A satellite image of the storm making landfall in LibyaImage source, BBC Weather

    The storm system that brought severe flooding to Libya began more than a week ago as Storm Daniel over Greece.

    Having brought record amounts of rain over a few days and widespread flooding to parts of eastern Greece, it slowly moved south over the Mediterranean.

    With sea temperatures in the eastern Mediterranean above normal for the time of year, the storm system regained strength and added moisture before barrelling into the Libyan coast. It briefly became what meteorologists term a “medicane”

    Impacts include rough seas, wind gusts reportedly of over 50mph and over a years worth of rain for some.

    In the 24 hours between 08:00 Sunday and 08:00 Monday, Omar Al-Mukhtar University in Bayda recorded 414mm of rain, and the north-eastern town of Marawa received 240mm.

    To put that in perspective, nearby Benghazi has an annual average of 270mm.

  12. Urgent funding needed for flood victims says humanitarian agencypublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    Overturned cars lay among other debris caused by flash floods in Derna, eastern Libya, on September 11, 2023Image source, AFP

    The situation in Libya is being described as "disastrous" by the prominent humanitarian organisation, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

    Storm Daniel caused devastating flooding across the North African country, including its major cities of Benghazi and Derna.

    NRC's country director for Libya, Dax Bennett Roque says the rescue team on the ground in Benghazi say that "tens of thousands of people are displaced with no prospect of going home."

    The disaster is exacerbated by years of conflict in Libya leaving little resources for an national emergency like this, the NRC says.

    Roque added: “Humanitarian aid groups in Libya have been chronically under-funded. Now is the time to show solidarity with the people and help them on the long way back to recovery.”

  13. Derna a 'disaster city'published at 14:45 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    As we've been reporting, the port city of Derna is the worst-affected by flooding in Libya, with more than 1,000 people confirmed to have died so far.

    Derna is bisected by a seasonal river that flows from highlands to the ocean, and is normally protected from flooding by dams.

    But two dams have reportedly collapsed, submerging much of the area in water. The dams are indicated on the map below.

    "I am not exaggerating when I say that 25% of the city has disappeared," Hichem Chkiouat, from the government of Eastern Libya, said.

    Authorities have declared it a "disaster city".

    A man shows the locations of two burst dams along the river that bisects DernaImage source, .
  14. What's the latest?published at 14:23 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    If you're just joining us, here's what you need to know on the devastating floods in Libya:

    • Widespread flooding and mudslides caused by torrential rain have destroyed many roads and homes in Libya
    • Unofficial estimates suggest the death toll could be upwards of 2,000
    • The port of Derna is thought to be the worst hit, where two dams and four bridges collapsed. More than 1,000 bodies have been recovered there alone
    • Around 10,000 people are thought to be missing, according to the IFRC
    • Iran, Turkey and Italy have all responded with aid
    A map of Libya, showing key coastal posts affected by floodsImage source, .
  15. Floods tear through Libyan city of Dernapublished at 13:45 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    Eyewitness footage shows a torrent of water flowing through Derna, causing massive destruction.

    Read More
  16. Libya minister says storm damage 'catastrophic'published at 13:11 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    BBC Newshour
    BBC World Service

    Libya Minister of Civil Aviation and member of the emergency committee for the government of eastern Libya Hichem Chkiouat has described the floods as a calamity, adding that the death toll is alarming.

    "Currently 1,500 dead. More than 2,000 missing. We don't have accurate figures but it's a calamity. I was shocked by what I saw - it's like a tsunami," he said.

    Speaking to the BBC World Service's Newshour programme, he added that international aid was expected from countries like Turkey, Egypt, Italy and Qatar and while they were "handling the situation", they did not have complete capacity.

    The minister also noted that the dam which had collapsed had not received maintenance in a while which could have led to the catastrophic crisis.

  17. Turkey and Italy join in aid efforts for Libyapublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    Plane being loaded with aidImage source, Reuters

    We've already reported about Iran offering help to Libya - and now other countries are also adding to the effort.

    The Reuters new agency has been showing pictures of military aircraft in Turkey being loaded with rescue equipment and humanitarian supplies.

    Italy is also responding to a request for aid, according to the AFP news agency

    "The Italian government is responding immediately to requests for support for the floods in eastern Libya: an assessment team is already on its way, co-ordinated by our civil protection unit", Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is quoted as saying.

  18. 10,000 missing after devastating floods in Libya - IFRCpublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    A view of devastation in disaster zones after the floods caused by the Storm Daniel ravaged the region, on September 11, 2023, in Derna, LibyaImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Derna is one of the hardest-hit places

    Around 10,000 people are thought to be missing following major floods in Libya according to an official from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

    "We can confirm from our independent sources of information that the number of missing people is hitting 10,000 so far," said Tamer Ramadan, the head of the IFRC delegation in Libya.

    Widespread flooding and mudslides caused by torrential rain have destroyed many roads and homes.

    The worst-affected place is the port of Derna, much of which is under water after two dams and four bridges collapsed.

    "The death toll is huge and might reach thousands," added Mr Ramadan.

    The IFRC could soon launch an appeal for emergency funding to support Libya's flood victims.

  19. Iran offers aid to flood-stricken Libyapublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    BBC Monitoring
    The world through its media

    Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has offered humanitarian aid to Libya after severe floods caused mass casualties.

    Mr Amir-Abdollahian said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Tuesday that Iran's Red Crescent Society had expressed readiness to provide relief to Libya.

    The Iranian minister also expressed sorrow over the disaster and sent condolences to the Libyan authorities and people as well as to the families of the victims.

    Iran and Libya have recently moved to fully restore diplomatic ties, with Tehran and Tripoli announcing plans to reopen embassies.

    The two countries have diplomatic relations, but Iran closed its embassy during the uprising against the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

    The new Libyan ambassador to Tehran, Ali Jumaa Hassan Fudail, presented his credentials to Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran in early July.

  20. Libya facing large-scale disaster - Red Crescentpublished at 10:33 British Summer Time 12 September 2023

    Libya is facing a "large-scale devastating disaster", the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says.

    The head of the IFRC delegation in Libya, Tamer Ramadan, says the challenges and needs in the country are way beyond what current efforts can do.

    He says international support for the people in Libya is "strongly needed now".

    It comes as thousands of people are reported dead in the widespread heavy flooding, with the toll continuing to rise.

    A minister in the eastern-based government told the Reuters news agency a quarter of the worst-hit city of Derna had disappeared and many buildings had collapsed, and called the situation there “disastrous”.

    Hichem Chkiouat said more than 1,000 bodies had now been recovered in the city.

    Two of the city's dams have been destroyed.

    Libya's western-based government in Tripoli has sent a plane with 14 tonnes of medical supplies, body bags and more than 80 doctors and paramedics.