Derna, a port city in eastern Libya, is reeling from the catastrophic aftermath of a flood that has claimed the lives of at least 2,300 people. The city was engulfed by a tsunami-like surge of floodwater on Sunday after a dam burst during Storm Daniel. As rescue efforts continue, bodies recovered from the disaster are being laid to rest in mass graves.
The scale of the tragedy is immense, with an estimated 10,000 people still reported missing. Mohammed Qamaty, a volunteer in Derna, has appealed for assistance from qualified individuals, urging young Libyans with medical expertise to join the rescue operations. The shortage of nurses has further complicated the relief efforts.
While some aid has started to arrive, including support from Egypt, the political situation in Libya has hindered rescue operations. The country remains divided between two rival governments, making coordination and response challenging. However, several nations, including the US, Germany, Iran, Italy, Qatar, and Turkey, have expressed their readiness to provide aid.
Water engineering experts have shed light on the sequence of events leading to the disaster. It is believed that a dam located approximately 12 kilometers (eight miles) from Derna failed first, unleashing a torrent of water that overwhelmed a second dam closer to the city.
Disturbing video footage captured after dark on Sunday depicts a raging river of floodwater coursing through Derna, with vehicles helplessly bobbing in the current. In the light of day, the extent of the devastation became apparent, with neighborhoods reduced to ruins, streets covered in mud and debris, and overturned vehicles strewn about.
Survivors have shared harrowing accounts of being swept out to sea, while others clung to rooftops in a desperate bid for survival. Hisham Chkiouat, a representative of Libya’s eastern-based government, likened the scene to a tsunami, expressing shock at the level of destruction.
Othman Abduljaleel, the health minister of eastern Libya, described the tragedy as significant and beyond the capacity of Derna and the government to handle. The cities of Soussa, Al-Marj, and Misrata were also affected by the storm, compounding the challenges faced by rescue teams.
Since the overthrow and killing of long-serving ruler Col Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been plagued by political turmoil. The nation is effectively split, with an interim government operating from Tripoli and another in the east. Despite this division, the government in Tripoli has dispatched a plane carrying 14 tonnes of medical supplies, body bags, and over 80 doctors and paramedics to aid in the relief efforts.
Derna, located approximately 250 kilometers east of Benghazi along the coast, is surrounded by the hills of the fertile Jabal Akhdar region. The city was previously a stronghold for militants from the Islamic State group following Gaddafi’s downfall. However, they were eventually driven out by the Libyan National Army, loyal to Gen Khalifa Haftar, who is aligned with the eastern administration.
General Haftar has stated that officials in the eastern region are currently assessing the extent of the damage caused by the floods. Reconstruction of roads and restoration of electricity are among the priorities to facilitate ongoing rescue operations.
The nation mourns the loss of thousands of lives and stands united in the face of this devastating natural disaster.