Flooding Death Toll Soars to 11,300 in Libya’s Coastal City of Derna

The death toll in Libya’s coastal city of Derna has risen to a staggering 11,300 as search and rescue efforts continue following a devastating flood caused by heavy rains and the breaching of two dams.

The Libyan Red Crescent has reported an additional 10,100 people missing in the Mediterranean city, while health authorities had previously estimated the death toll at 5,500. The storm also claimed the lives of approximately 170 people in other parts of eastern Libya.

The mayor of Derna, Abdel-Moneim al-Ghaithi, expressed concerns that the tally could climb to 20,000 due to the number of neighborhoods that were washed away. The flooding, which occurred on Sunday night, swept away entire families and exposed the vulnerabilities of the oil-rich country, which has been grappling with conflict since the 2011 uprising that toppled former dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Survivors have recounted harrowing experiences of being swept away by the rising waters. One injured survivor, speaking from his hospital bed at the Benghazi Medical Center, described how he and his mother managed to scramble into an empty building downstream as the water level suddenly rose. He witnessed cars and bodies being carried away by the water, an ordeal that lasted for what felt like an eternity.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) remains hopeful of finding survivors as emergency workers continue sifting through the mud and rubble. Tamer Ramadan, head of the IFRC’s rescue effort in Libya, emphasized the unwavering hope to find people alive amidst the devastation.

Derna has begun burying its dead, mostly in mass graves, with over 3,000 bodies already buried and another 2,000 still being processed. The Libyan Red Crescent Society, in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is distributing 6,000 body bags to ensure the dignified treatment of the deceased.

The disaster has exposed the poor maintenance and bad infrastructure in the region. Access to Derna remains severely hampered as roads and bridges have been destroyed, leaving at least 30,000 people homeless. The United Nations has called for the establishment of a sea corridor for emergency relief and evacuations due to the collapse of most roads.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) chief, Petteri Taalas, highlighted the importance of early warning and emergency management systems, stating that many deaths could have been avoided if these systems had functioned properly. The lack of coordination and failure to issue timely warnings contributed to the high number of casualties.

Experts have also pointed out corruption and financial mismanagement as factors behind the failing infrastructure in Libya. The neglect of critical infrastructure and maintenance by the eastern authorities has exacerbated the situation. Anas El Gomati, founder and director of the Sadeq Institute, attributed the crumbling infrastructure to successive regimes and the military investment authority’s exploitation of public infrastructure for personal gain.

As the search for survivors continues, the Libyan people are left grappling with the aftermath of this violent and brutal disaster. The international community, aid organizations, and local authorities are working together to provide support and assistance to those affected by the floods in Derna and other parts of eastern Libya.

Source: Al Jazeera