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Over 2,300 lives were tragically lost in Libya, with thousands more individuals unaccounted for, following the devastating flash floods that breached river dams and ravaged an eastern coastal city. The catastrophe left entire neighborhoods in ruins.
Amidst growing global concern, numerous nations have swiftly offered to provide aid and deploy rescue teams to assist the war-ravaged nation, which has been overwhelmed by what one UN official has described as “an unprecedented catastrophe.”
The Mediterranean coastal city of Derna has borne the brunt of this devastating calamity, housing approximately 100,000 residents. The city’s skyline has been marred by the collapse of multi-storey buildings along the riverbanks, while homes and vehicles have been swallowed by the relentless floodwaters.
Initial reports from emergency services indicate a staggering death toll of over 2,300 in Derna alone, with an additional 5,000 individuals still unaccounted for and approximately 7,000 reported injured.
Osama Ali, representing the Tripoli-based Rescue and Emergency Service, expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “The situation in Derna is nothing short of shocking and highly dramatic. We urgently require increased support to save lives, as there are still people trapped beneath the rubble, and every passing minute is critical.”
The flooding resulted from the heavy downpours caused by Storm Daniel, which first struck Libya on Sunday, having previously impacted Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
Derna, located 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Benghazi, is surrounded by hills and cut through by a usually dry riverbed during the summer. However, this riverbed has now transformed into a turbulent, mud-brown torrent of water that also swept away several significant bridges.
The reported number of casualties by the Libyan emergency service closely aligns with the somber estimates provided by the Red Cross and regional authorities in the east. These authorities have cautioned that the death toll may still increase.
“The death toll is substantial, and it may potentially climb into the thousands,” stated Tamer Ramadan, a representative of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It has been reported that three of their volunteers have also tragically lost their lives.
“We can confirm, based on our independent sources of information, that the count of missing individuals has now reached approximately 10,000,” Ramadan further stated.
In eastern Libya, the Norwegian Refugee Council, an aid organization, reported that “whole villages have been inundated by floods, and the number of casualties is steadily increasing.”
“Communities throughout Libya have endured years of conflict, poverty, and displacement. This latest catastrophe will only worsen the plight of these individuals. Hospitals and shelters are expected to be stretched to their limits.”
Footage broadcast on Libyan TV displayed a somber scene in Derna’s main square, where dozens of bodies, shrouded in blankets or sheets, awaited identification and burial. Additionally, more bodies were found in Martouba village to the southeast.
On Monday, a solemn burial ceremony saw over 300 victims laid to rest, yet there were grave concerns about a significantly larger number of casualties potentially lost in the river that flows into the Mediterranean.
The destructive storm also wreaked havoc in Benghazi and the hill district of Jabal al-Akhdar. Reports of extensive damage from the broader region included images depicting overturned cars and trucks, indicating flooding and mudslides.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation, primarily situated in eastern Libya, declared a “state of maximum alert” and suspended flights between production sites due to drastically reduced activity.
Oil-rich Libya continues to recover from the aftermath of the years of war and chaos following the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed the longtime dictator, Moamer Kadhafi.
The nation remains divided between two rival governments—the UN-brokered, internationally recognized administration based in Tripoli, and a separate administration in the disaster-stricken east. Access to the eastern region is limited, with severed phone and online communication links. Prime Minister Oussama Hamad of the eastern administration reported “more than 2,000 dead and thousands missing” in Derna alone. A Derna city council official described the situation as “catastrophic” and called for “national and international intervention.”
Aid Offers:
Libya’s UN-backed government, led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, announced three days of national mourning on Monday, emphasizing the need for unity among all Libyans.
Aid convoys from Tripoli were en route to the east, and Dbeibah’s government announced the dispatch of two ambulance planes, a helicopter, rescue teams, canine search squads, 87 doctors, and technicians to restore power.
Rescue teams from Turkey have arrived in eastern Libya, according to authorities, and the United Nations, along with several countries, offered to provide aid.
Egypt declared three days of mourning in solidarity with Libya and earthquake-hit Morocco and extended offers of assistance to both countries.
Algeria pledged aid delivered via eight military planes, while Italy expressed immediate readiness to provide support, with an assessment team already on its way.
The United States embassy declared an official declaration of humanitarian need in response to the devastating floods in Libya.
