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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Al Jazeera or enjoy below
🗞️ Driving the news: Storm Daniel has caused severe flooding in eastern Libya, breaking through two Derna river dams and unleashing a wall of water that swept away entire neighborhoods
• At least 3,000 individuals are considered dead and 1,000 bodies have been recovered in Derna alone
🔭 The context: The intensity of the storm in Libya, coupled with its earlier path of destruction in Greece, highlights the escalating severity of extreme and unanticipated weather events in the Mediterranean region
• The storm has exacerbated Libya’s pre-existing political divides between the east and the west and the shortcomings of its public services
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: With global climate crises intensifying, the devastating effects of Storm Daniel highlight the vulnerability of countries in the Global South, especially those with fragile infrastructures, to extreme weather events
⏭️ What's next: Local authorities anticipate that the final toll of this disaster will be significant in terms of both economic and human costs, highlighting the scale of the catastrophe
💬 One quote: “It is very disastrous. Bodies are lying everywhere,” (Hichem Chkiouat, Minister of Civil Aviation)
📈 One stat: Officials report that anywhere between 5,000 to 10,000 people could be missing
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