Devendra Kumar
Mediterranean storm Daniel unleashed devastating floods in Libya, sweeping away entire neighborhoods and destroying homes in coastal towns in the east of the country. As many as 2,000 people are feared dead, according to one of Libya’s leaders. The confirmed death toll stood at 61 as of late Monday, but many more were believed to have been carried away by floodwaters. The city of Derna, formerly held by Islamic extremists, appears to be the worst affected, with video footage showing major devastation and entire residential areas erased along a river.
The government in the east has declared Derna a disaster zone, and thousands of people are believed to be missing. Ahmed al-Mosmari, a spokesman for the country’s armed forces, said the death toll in Derna had surpassed 2,000, and there were between 5,000 and 6,000 reported missing. The catastrophe was attributed to the collapse of two nearby dams, causing a lethal flash flood. Since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has lacked a central government, resulting in dwindling investment in roads and public services and minimal regulation of private building.
The country is now split between rival governments in the east and west, each backed by a range of militias. Derna itself was controlled by extremist groups for years, until forces loyal to the east-based government expelled them in 2018. The head of one of Libya’s rival governments said 2,000 people are feared dead, and the situation is disastrous.
The Libyan Red Crescent reported that one of its workers lost contact while attempting to help a trapped family in Bayda, and dozens of others are missing and feared dead. Ahmed al-Mosmari, a spokesman for the country’s armed forces, said the disaster was due to the collapse of two nearby dams, which caused a lethal flash flood. Essam Abu Zeriba, the interior minister of the east Libya government, urged local and international agencies to help the city, saying the situation is tragic.
International organizations and governments have sent messages of support and offered humanitarian assistance. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Libya, Georgette Gagnon, said she is deeply saddened by the impact of the storm and has tasked an emergency response team to support local authorities and partners in the region. The storm is expected to affect parts of west Egypt on Monday, and the country’s meteorological authorities have warned about possible rain and bad weather.