Athens, Greece – Greece’s armed forces have declared three days of national mourning following the tragic loss of five members of a military rescue team in a road accident that occurred in flood-ravaged Libya.
The bodies of the five individuals, comprising three military officials and two civilians, were transported back to a military base near Athens during the early hours of Monday. Additionally, 13 injured team members were airlifted and received medical care in military hospitals located in the Greek capital.
The fatal incident unfolded on Sunday as a bus carrying the Greek rescue team was en route to the city of Derna, which had been severely affected by devastating floods. Tragically, the bus collided with an oncoming car, resulting in the loss of lives among the Greek team members and three Libyan passengers, as confirmed by Libyan authorities.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou expressed her shock and condolences, stating, “We are all shocked by the deaths of rescuers who were participating in a humanitarian mission to show solidarity to the suffering Libyan people. I am deeply saddened by their unexpected death.”
The catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya occurred approximately a week ago, as heavy rains associated with the Mediterranean storm Daniel caused widespread destruction. The storm overwhelmed two dams, unleashing a torrent of water that engulfed the coastal city of Derna. Tragically, the flooding claimed the lives of a minimum of 11,000 individuals, while over 10,000 people remain missing and are presumed deceased. The floodwaters wreaked havoc, submerging neighborhoods, sweeping away bridges, vehicles, and people into the sea.
Before reaching Libya, storm Daniel had also inflicted extensive damage in central Greece, resulting in numerous areas grappling with ongoing flooding and its associated challenges.
