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More than 5,300 people have died after Storm Daniel hit Libya

Storm Daniel, a rare and powerful Mediterranean storm, has caused widespread devastation in Libya, killing over 5,300 people and displacing tens of thousands more.

The storm brought torrential rainfall to the coastal city of Derna, where two dams collapsed, causing a "tsunami" of water that swept away entire neighborhoods. More than 34,000 people have been swept out of their homes.

Factors compounding storm Daniel

The severity of the disaster has been compounded by a number of factors, including inadequate local infrastructure, poor dam maintenance, and Libya's ongoing political turmoil.

The Libyan Red Crescent and the United Nations have been providing vital aid on the ground, but relief efforts have been complicated by the country's political divisions.

Climate change may be partly to blame

Experts say that climate change may be partly to blame for the catastrophe. Storm Daniel was a "medicane," a Mediterranean storm with hurricane-like characteristics. Experts say that climate change is making medicanes more powerful and that we can expect more severe storms in the future.

Africa at risk

Natural disasters are among the most pressing risks facing the world, both in the short and longer term. Africa is heating up faster than the rest of the planet and is most at risk from climate disasters as a result.

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Nature and BiodiversityClimate Action
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