The torrential rains that swept across the Mediterranean over the weekend caused the collapse of two dams in Derna, a coastal city in northeastern Libya, killing at least 5,200 people and sweeping entire neighborhoods into the sea. People are still missing in Derna and other flooded areas, and the death toll is likely to rise, local authorities said.
Rescues are ongoing, but it is unclear how much aid has reached the people. The devastating floods blocked roads and cut off access to Derna, municipal officials said. What complicates rescue efforts in Libya is its division between an internationally recognized government based in Tripoli and a separately administered region in the east.
What Happened?
A powerful storm swept across the Mediterranean Sea last week, flooding Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria before heading to Libya, where it hit the country’s coast over the weekend. Heavy rains struck the eastern part of the country, flooding Shahhat, Al-Bayda, Marj, and other settlements, displacing more than 20,000 people. In Derna, a city of about 100,000 inhabitants, the rain destroyed two dams, and the resulting floods destroyed buildings, sank vehicles, and left bodies scattered in the streets.
Authorities said on Tuesday (12) that a third dam, located between Derna and Benghazi, another coastal city, was also on the verge of collapse.
Political Chaos
Political chaos has made it difficult for Libya to maintain its infrastructure. The country is governed by a western administration based in Tripoli and an authority based in the east that oversees Derna, among other cities. Dozens of armed groups are also influential.
Most of Libya’s population lives in coastal areas, and the country is particularly vulnerable to climate change and severe storms. However, even after the storm killed more than a dozen people last week when it swept through Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, Libyan authorities appeared to have no serious plan to monitor the dams, alert residents, or evacuate them.
However, the different authorities in Libya seem to be working together, to some extent, in search and rescue efforts. Medical teams, including workers sent from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the government in Tripoli, arrived in Benghazi on Tuesday, and other aid groups said they planned to expand their services in Libya. Tripoli also sent supplies, including body bags and medical equipment, to Benghazi, which is more than 300 kilometers from Derna.
But it is unclear whether the supplies reached the most affected areas, as roads are destroyed.
President Biden said on Tuesday that the United States would send emergency funds to humanitarian aid organizations and would coordinate with Libyan authorities and the United Nations to provide support. French President Emmanuel Macron also announced aid for organizations working in Libya.
Source: The New York Times