Flooding cuts roads, power and water across western Libya as rescue operations expand

Heavy rain has inundated towns including Mizda, Nesma and Bani Walid, with residents trapped by mudflows and authorities reporting blocked roads, missing people and disrupted essential services.

Severe flooding has affected several towns in western and central Libya after torrential rain overnight on Friday, cutting electricity and water supplies, blocking roads and prompting rescue operations across the region.

Libya’s Ambulance and Emergency Service reported flooding and emergency interventions in Mizda, Nesma, Al-Shwayrif and Al-Shqiqah on September 25. The service said parts of Mizda were submerged, two people were taken to Mizda General Hospital after drowning incidents and a number of people were reported missing. Roads into the town were initially closed, while emergency teams reached the area with support from security forces. ([lana.gov.ly](https://lana.gov.ly/post.php?id=366241&lang=ar))

Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah ordered authorities to mobilise resources in affected areas and work to clear roads, restore electricity, drinking water and telecommunications, according to a statement from his office reported by AFP. Dbeibah’s current position as head of Libya’s Government of National Unity is also reflected in official Libyan reporting. ([oilgasdaily.com](https://www.oilgasdaily.com/reports/260925174450.fjd2hfw1.html))

Rescue teams deployed as roads become impassable

In the Bani Walid area south of Tripoli, rescue teams worked to free residents from vehicles swept away by mudflows. In Mizda, municipal officials reported widespread power failures after electricity poles fell, along with landslides and other damage. The mayor of Nesma, Ahmed al-Sid, declared the municipality a disaster zone because of damage linked to rain and overflowing wadis, AFP reported. ([oilgasdaily.com](https://www.oilgasdaily.com/reports/260925174450.fjd2hfw1.html))

Floodwater also disrupted movement farther south. An emergency-service official told Libya’s Al Wasat that strong flows through the valleys around Zemzem, Tamlah, Al-Baghla and Abu Najaym cut the road linking the coastal highway with Sabha and halted traffic at several points. Some families in Abu Najaym were evacuated from flooded homes, the report said. ([alwasat.ly](https://www.alwasat.ly/news/479324))

Essential services remain under pressure

Libyan authorities reported additional efforts to stabilise services on Saturday. The General Electricity Company said power had returned to Nesma while repair work continued in other affected areas. The Health Ministry said medical facilities in Mizda, Al-Shqiqah and Nesma had received 147 people following the severe weather.

Authorities also said the national meteorological service was forecasting further chances of moderate to heavy thunderstorms and warned of possible runoff and flooding in several areas. The Water Resources Ministry said dams under its monitoring remained stable and safe in terms of available storage capacity. ([lana.gov.ly](https://lana.gov.ly/))

What remains unclear

The full scale of damage, the number of people still missing and whether any deaths have occurred had not been established in the official updates reviewed. The condition of all affected roads, hospitals and water networks also remains under assessment.

The immediate priorities are the search for missing people, access to isolated communities, medical support and restoration of electricity, water and communications. Further official assessments are expected as rescue teams reach areas cut off by floodwater and mud.

Sources