Key facts
- Torrential rains flooded Tripoli on Tuesday, killing two people.
- One victim died from electrocution at Jumhouria Bank.
- Another man was found dead in his car submerged by floodwaters.
- The rain lasted for 2.5 hours, according to the mayor of Central Tripoli.
- The General Electricity Company cut power in some Tripoli districts to reduce danger.
- Videos showed motorists scrambling out of cars as they filled with water.
Torrential rains flooded the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Tuesday, killing two people and causing widespread damage. The downpour, which lasted for 2.5 hours, inundated roads, submerged numerous vehicles, and led authorities to cut off power in certain areas as a precaution. The situation was described as catastrophic by the mayor of Central Tripoli.
One victim was identified as a Jumhouria Bank employee who died from electrocution due to the flooding, according to the bank. The Tripoli Red Crescent recovered his body. Another man was found dead in his car, which had been submerged in the floodwaters, a local TV station reported.
Heavy rainfall also caused severe flooding across several towns in western Libya, cutting electricity and running water and trapping residents. Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah ordered authorities to mobilize resources in affected areas. Videos circulated on social media showing people trapped in vehicles or trying to escape mudflows. In Mizda, a town south of Tripoli, heavy rainfall caused a widespread power outage. The mayor of Nasmah town declared it a disaster zone due to extensive damage.