Floods in Libya Killed more than 5,300
The flood in Libya has claimed the lives of more than 5,300 individuals to date. Severe rainfall led to the rupture of two dams, resulting in a flash flood in eastern Libya. The city of Derna in eastern Libya has borne the brunt of this catastrophe, experiencing the most extensive destruction.
The country's inadequate infrastructure has proven incapable of withstanding environmental challenges, leaving it severely compromised. Hospitals, roads, and neighborhoods have all suffered the devastating effects of the flood.
Storm Daniel, which wreaked havoc in Greece, entered eastern Libya on Sunday, leaving a trail of widespread destruction in its wake. Rescue and search operations have recovered hundreds of bodies in the eastern city of Derna, with the death toll expected to rise. On Tuesday, 1,500 bodies were retrieved, and another 10,000 citizens are reported missing.
The East Libya Interior Ministry has confirmed that the death toll in Derna has reached 5,300. Mass graves have been dug to accommodate the flood victims in Derna, with more than 1,500 corpses recovered by Tuesday evening, half of which have been laid to rest, according to the Health Minister for eastern Libya.
Mass grave in Derna. Img Credit- Aljazeera.
Local emergency responders, including troops, government personnel, volunteers, and brave residents, have been tirelessly sifting through debris in search of the deceased. Inflatable boats have been deployed to recover bodies from the water. Many are believed to be trapped beneath the rubble or have been carried out into the Mediterranean Sea, Lamented Othman Abduljaleel, the Health Minister for eastern Libya.
The storm is reportedly attributed to rising ocean temperatures, and experts predict that more such storms are on the horizon.
Authorities are facing criticism for their delayed response, as people assert that evacuation should have been executed preemptively when the storm was approaching Libya from Greece. Libya is a nation divided between two factions, one in the west and the other in the east, each governing different regions. This ongoing power struggle has resulted in the neglect of the country's infrastructure development.
Foreign aid finally reached Libya after 36 hours, but the transportation system remains paralyzed due to impassable roads.
President Joe Biden expressed his condolences and pledged support, announcing on Tuesday that the United States would provide emergency funds to relief organizations and collaborate with Libyan authorities and the UN to offer further assistance.
In addition to the United States, Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, France, and Italy have also provided foreign aid and dispatched rescue personnel.
Other towns severely affected by the flood include Susa, Marj, and Shahatt, with hundreds of families seeking refuge in schools and government buildings in Benghazi and other parts of eastern Libya. The northeastern region of Libya, particularly the Jabal al-Akhdar area encompassing Bayda, Marj, and Shahatt, is known for its fertility and lush landscapes, receiving some of the country's highest average annual rainfall, according to the World Bank.
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