At least 150 people have tragically lost their lives in eastern Libya due to the devastating effects of storm Daniel, which recently swept across the Mediterranean region, according to an official statement on Monday.

Mohamed Massoud, a spokesperson for the Benghazi-based administration in Libya, disclosed the grim news, stating, “At least 150 people were killed as a result of flooding and torrential rains left by storm Daniel in Derna, the Jabal al-Akhdar region, and the suburbs of Al-Marj.”

Massoud also highlighted the extensive material damage inflicted upon both public and private properties, compounding the catastrophe.

The east-based government, led by Prime Minister Oussama Hamad, declared Derna a “disaster area” in response to the crisis. The situation remains highly challenging, with many residents trapped in hard-to-reach areas.

Storm Daniel, which has also struck parts of Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria in recent days, claimed the lives of at least 27 people across these regions.

Experts have described the storm as “extreme in terms of the amount of water falling within a 24-hour period.”

In Libya, the storm made landfall in eastern Libya on Sunday afternoon, affecting various areas, notably the coastal town of Jabal al-Akhdar and Benghazi.

Authorities in Benghazi imposed a curfew and temporarily closed schools due to the severe weather conditions.

Rescue teams have been deployed to Derna, located 900 kilometers (560 miles) east of the capital, Tripoli. The city, with a population of 100,000, sits along the wadi of a river bearing the same name.

During rescue operations in Derna, east Libyan authorities reported losing contact with nine soldiers, adding to the gravity of the situation.