Severe flooding strikes western Libya following heavy rainfall

On the night between Thursday, September 24 and Friday, September 25, 2026, severe flash flooding hit multiple cities across western and southwestern Libya. The deluge caused widespread damage to homes, road infrastructure, and utility networks, leaving residents in several areas without access to electricity or water. In Mizda, a town of approximately 30,000 residents located 165 kilometers south of Tripoli, the storm downed electricity poles and caused significant material destruction. Other severely affected locations include Bani Walid, where rescue teams had to extract citizens trapped in vehicles, as well as Nesma and Gharyan, where floods overwhelmed sewage systems and forced families to evacuate to higher ground.

Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah has ordered national authorities to immediately mobilize resources to assist the impacted regions in coordination with local municipalities. While official reports mention rescue operations are underway despite damaged road access, local sources indicate that some individuals are currently reported as missing. The flooding is considered highly unusual for the semi-arid region, which rarely experiences such extreme precipitation. Rescue efforts remain ongoing as authorities continue to assess the total scale of the damage and provide emergency support to the displaced population.