Eastern Libya Flooding Claims Over 5,000 Lives Amid Dam Failures and Political Divide, Highlighting Infrastructure Challenges and Tragic Loss
Credit: Google | Ariel view of Libya floods
In a heart-wrenching catastrophe, Eastern Libya has witnessed a devastating flood that has claimed over 5,000 lives or left people missing. This catastrophic event, caused by the bursting of two dams, has not only wreaked havoc on the city of Derna but also exposed the fragile state of the country’s infrastructure and the stark political divisions within Libya.
The tragedy unfolded as Storm Daniel, a powerful and slow-moving weather system, made its way from Greece to Libya, bringing record-breaking rainfall and devastating consequences. Despite an official warning issued by Libyan authorities about the approaching storm, there was a critical lack of flood warnings specific to the risk of dam failures in Derna, a coastal city with a river valley running through it.
#BREAKING UPDATE🇱🇾💔
— Today On Globe (@TodayOnGlobe) September 13, 2023
Tragic news from Libya as the flooding death toll in Derna alone has surpassed 5,300, with thousands still missing. #PrayForLibya🙏#Libya #LibyaFloods #SupportLibya #tognews #todayonglobenews #todayonglobepic.twitter.com/7brXwgbF8Xpic.twitter.com/n8zARvF9fO
The result was catastrophic, with flash floods sweeping away entire neighborhoods, leaving more than 5,000 people dead or missing. The death toll continues to rise, with local officials estimating that the number could surpass 5,000. Derna, once a thriving city with a population of about 100,000, saw a quarter of its urban landscape vanish as the floodwaters washed away buildings and coastal highways into the Mediterranean.
The aftermath of the disaster revealed the grim consequences of Libya’s political fragmentation. The country remains divided between rival governments in Tripoli and Benghazi, with the latter under the control of Russian-backed militia commander Khalifa Haftar. This division delayed flood warnings and rescue efforts, exacerbating the tragedy.
Years of conflict and neglect have left Libya’s infrastructure, including some dams, in a precarious state. The competition for authority between the two governments further hindered recovery and relief efforts, with international experts expressing concerns about the lack of readiness to handle such extreme weather events in North Africa.
As the situation unfolds, there are growing fears that Derna remains at risk of further flooding due to the absence of protective dams. In the initial hours after the disaster, rescue teams faced delays in reaching the flood-affected areas, reflecting broader issues of underfunding for humanitarian aid groups in Libya.
International aid has started to arrive in Libya from countries such as Egypt, Turkey, Italy, and Algeria, with Canada and the United States also pledging support. However, damage to roads and communication systems poses challenges for the ongoing relief operations.
This disaster has affected up to 1.8 million people in Libya, with some hospitals being destroyed. The devastation has prompted desperate appeals on social media for information about missing loved ones and raised questions about the speed of the relief effort and the failure of local authorities to issue specific warnings about the dam risks.
#BREAKING🇱🇾💔
— Today On Globe (@TodayOnGlobe) September 12, 2023
Mediterranean Storm Daniel triggered devastating Floods in Libya, displacing 20,000 families, leaving 10,000 people missing & causing over 3,000 casualties.#LibyaFloods #SupportLibya #tognewspic.twitter.com/8unO9awnhepic.twitter.com/ZwxppJ7do0pic.twitter.com/OQV5hIqX5s
As Libya faces this heart-wrenching tragedy, it serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for political unity, infrastructure improvement, and disaster preparedness in a country torn by years of conflict and instability.
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