At least 1 killed, 79 injured in floods in SW Libya

At least one person was killed and 79 injured after flash floods and heavy rains swept through the city of Mizdah, about 165 km south of the Libyan capital Tripoli, local media reported Friday.



The deceased was identified as a passerby, who died after being taken to Mizdah General Hospital, reported Libyan TV channel Al-Masar.



Mizdah and other areas in western and central Libya have been hit by heavy rainfall and flash floods since Thursday night, inundating residential areas and forcing the closure of major roads, while rescue and evacuation operations are underway for affected residents.



The Government of National Unity announced Friday morning that it had tasked the Air Ambulance Service with evacuating people affected by the floods in the municipality of Al-Shqaiqah, about 170 km south of Tripoli, and transporting cases requiring evacuation or medical care to specialized medical facilities.