Thousands Feared Dead in Libya as Storm Daniel Causes Dam Collapse
Thousands of people are feared dead in Libya after Storm Daniel brought heavy rainfall to the northeast, causing two dams to collapse and sweeping entire neighborhoods into the sea. The badly affected city of Derna has reported over 2,000 fatalities with approximately 6,000 people still missing, according to Othman Abduljalil, the health minister in Libya’s eastern parliament-backed government.
Describing the situation in Derna as catastrophic, Abduljalil appealed to the international community for help, stating that search and rescue teams are urgently needed. Libya’s Red Crescent Society estimated earlier that over 300 people had died in Derna.
Ahmed Mismari, spokesperson for the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), explained that the collapse of the dams resulted in the destruction of three bridges and the washing away of entire neighborhoods into the sea. The head of Libya’s Emergency and Ambulance authority, Osama Aly, stated that the water from the dam collapse flowed into the mountainous coastal area near Derna, washing away homes in valleys and carrying vehicles and debris.
Rescue efforts have been significantly hampered by downed phone lines and the heavy destruction. Osama Aly admitted that authorities had not anticipated the scale of the disaster, attributing it to poor study of weather conditions and inadequate preparation. Several cities, including Al-Bayda, Al-Marj, Tobruk, Takenis, Al-Bayada, and Battah, have also been affected by the floods.
Libya, which has been divided between warring factions since 2014, is ill-equipped to handle such a catastrophe. Libya’s eastern parliament-backed government described the situation as catastrophic and unprecedented. Videos shared on social media showed submerged cars, collapsed buildings, and torrents of water rushing through streets.
Various countries, including Turkey, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, have offered condolences and aid to Libya. Turkey’s disaster agency has mobilized 150 search and rescue personnel and other necessary supplies, while the US Embassy in Libya is coordinating with the United Nations and Libyan authorities to provide assistance. The United Arab Emirates is also sending aid and search and rescue teams, and Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed his condolences and solidarity with the Libyan people.
The severe weather conditions in Libya are the result of Storm Daniel, a low-pressure system that caused catastrophic flooding in Greece before moving into the Mediterranean and developing into a tropical-like cyclone known as a medicane. These systems can bring dangerous conditions similar to tropical storms and hurricanes. The remains of Storm Daniel are now heading towards northern Egypt.