A storm named Daniel hit Derna in eastern Libya, causing a massive loss of life. Emergency services confirm over 2,300 deaths and thousands missing.
In Derna, a city of 100,000, visuals show collapsing buildings by a river. Two dams broke, worsening the flood.
An emergency spokesperson, Usama Ali, reports 2,300 deaths, 7,000 injuries, and 5,000 missing persons. “Derna faces a grim and dire situation,” he added.
Tamer Ramadan of the IFRC warned that missing persons could be nearly 10,000. “The needs surpass our ability to help,” he said.
Eastern government reports suggest that 5,200 people died in Derna. Three local Red Cross helpers are among the dead.
Two primary dams on the Wadi Derna River burst Sunday night. Mud torrents destroyed bridges and structures before reaching the sea.
First responders struggle to cope with the large-scale crisis.
Landslides and roadblocks hinder rescue efforts. Locals use makeshift methods to recover bodies and save survivors.
Derna and nearby towns remain isolated. Efforts to fix mobile and internet services are ongoing. Since a 1963 quake in Al Marj, this disaster has been the worst.
Aid from western Libya is moving towards Derna. Tripoli’s government sends medical planes and helicopters with doctors and first responders.
Major oil fields lie in eastern Libya. The NOC declared an alert and paused flights between oil centers. Turkish emergency teams also arrived in the area.
U.S. Ambassador Richard Norland confirms initial U.S. funding for rescue teams. The European Union also plans to send aid.
The storm previously hit Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, causing 27 other deaths. Experts say the event was extreme in terms of water volume.
Background
The storm’s impact reveals Libya’s vulnerability to natural disasters. Infrastructure weakened by civil unrest couldn’t handle the storm’s force.
This isn’t Libya’s first brush with catastrophe. The 1963 Al Marj earthquake was the last significant natural disaster.
The tragedy also exposes gaps in emergency preparedness. Despite being oil-rich, Libya lacks the resources for disaster relief.
This has prompted international aid from the U.S., the EU, and Turkey. Experts suggest this event could spark reforms in Libya’s disaster management system.
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