Follow the latest updates on the Libyan floods
Libyans in the UAE are anxiously trying to contact families back home to confirm their safety after the deadly floods brought on by Storm Daniel left a path of devastation across the country.
The storm wreaked havoc across eastern towns causing flash floods in many areas, including the city of Derna, where dams were destroyed and entire neighbourhoods washed away.
The death toll in Derna had risen to 5,300 by Wednesday morning, the Interior Ministry appointed by the country's parliament said.
Nearly 10,000 people are reported missing.
At least 600 people who died in floods in Derna were buried in mass graves, a resident told The National.
Entire families have vanished in the blink of an eye
Dr Matouk Mohamed Zbaeda,
medical director at a hospital in Abu Dhabi
Dr Salem Abu Fanas, Dean of Dentistry College at Ajman University, found himself in a state of despair as he tried to reach his family in Libya.
“Most of my family lives safely in the city of Misurata in Libya,” he told The National.
But one of his brothers, and his daughters and their families, live in Al Bayda, where roads and buildings were damaged by the storm.
At least 50 people are reported dead in Al Bayda and its main hospital was flooded, forcing the evacuation of patients, according to a post shared by the hospital on Facebook.
“I immediately called him, but there was no way of reaching him,” Dr Salem said.
“So I called my brothers in Misurata, who confirmed he was safe.
“But the sadness and feelings of loss and uncertainty held me captive until I finally heard his voice.”
Dr Salem said his brother lost his entire brick factory, a lorry and a car as a result of the floods.
“Not only that but the security guard at the factory was washed away and is missing, believed to be dead,” Dr Salem said.
“This is not the first time Al Bayda witnessed such a storm.”
A similar storm struck the region around 60 years ago, but the city was barely populated back then, said Dr Salem.
“It's God's will in the end. However, one can't help but think if Libya was not divided between two rival governments, it wouldn't have been left with inadequate infrastructure,” he said.
“Had it been more stable, there would have been better preparations that could have helped minimise the losses in lives and property.”
Dr Matouk Zbaeda, a medical director at a hospital in Abu Dhabi who lost friends in the flood, agreed.
“Shock isn't even the word,” he told The National.
“Entire families have vanished in the blink of an eye. It is unimaginable and what's worse is that we don't even know the extent of it yet.
“It will be a lot worse and we expect total deaths to be much higher than what was reported,” he said.
Dr Zbaeda, from Tripoli, said he lost both friends and a classmate in the floods.
“They were at home when the floods hit. Then in a few minutes, the entire family was gone. Siblings, children, in-laws, parents and everyone in that area,” he said.
“What's hard is that there was no communication with them and then the videos started coming out and we couldn't contact them or call anyone to rush to their aid which was the first instinct.”
Dr Zbaeda, along with other Libyan doctors and residents in the UAE, are planning to go to Libya to offer their assistance and find ways to support those affected by the storm.
“I've been trying to find flights. Getting to Libya is difficult on a normal day. Imagine it now? No one is able to get in or out,” he said.
Dr Zbaeda's son, who is based in Britain, is also trying to gather aid and donations for the people in Libya.
“There are only around six million Libyans and now so many are gone. We still can't process what happened and the problem is that it is only getting worse,” he said.
“It will be weeks until we know the magnitude of it all.
“You hear of these things happening in other countries or see it in movies, but you would never imagine it happening to you, in your home country,” he said.
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Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Nashrah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Mutaqadim, Riccardo Iacopini, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Jose Santiago, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dalil Al Carrere, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Jayide Al Boraq, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
- Don’t do it more than once in three days
- Don’t go under 700 calories on fasting days
- Ensure there is sufficient water intake, as the body can go in dehydration mode
- Ensure there is enough roughage (fibre) in the food on fasting days as well
- Do not binge on processed or fatty foods on non-fasting days
- Complement fasting with plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, seafood. Cut out processed meats and processed carbohydrates
- Manage your sleep
- People with existing gastric or mental health issues should avoid fasting
- Do not fast for prolonged periods without supervision by a qualified expert
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
FIGHT CARD
Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)
Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)
Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)
Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)
Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)
Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)
Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)
Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)
Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)
Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)
Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
