In Libya, more than 11 thousand people became victims of widespread flooding. Local officials say this number is not final, as 10,000 are considered missing.
In Libya, according to preliminary data, large-scale flooding has killed 11,300 people, and about 10 thousand are still missing. Officials in the hardest-hit city of Derna believe the death toll could reach 20,000. The flood became the worst natural disaster in the country’s modern history.
Number of victims
The confirmed number of deaths given by the country’s officials is not significant, but different. However, all officials are reporting thousands of victims, and more people are listed as missing. The mayor of Derna, Abdulmenam al-Ghaiti, said that the death toll in the city, based on the scale of the destruction, could reach 20 thousand.
He told Reuters that the city is now also on the brink of an outbreak of various epidemics “because of the large number of bodies under the rubble and in the water” and also because thousands of people have been buried. in mass graves.
What causes floods?
On Saturday and Sunday, a powerful storm Daniel hit Libya with record amounts of rain. Water filled the normally dry river in the hills south of the city of Derna. The two dams could not withstand such pressure and this water penetrated the city with furious force, washing away even the tallest buildings.
Cyclone in Libya, 😭😱😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/2URQTP07Om
— Karlita °*Chavistamente*° 27K (@kb_ql22) September 15, 2023
The head of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday that the deaths could have been avoided if Libya had a functional meteorological service capable of issuing danger warnings.
damage
Almost half of the city of Derna has been wiped out, local officials said. At least 30,000 people have been evacuated from the area, according to the UN migration agency.
Here is the first post-event high-resolution satellite image of the port city of Derna.
9/11 of Libya. pic.twitter.com/HirE59i1Bn
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) September 12, 2023
The hardest hit areas were on the banks of the river that runs through the city center. Entire neighborhoods were destroyed or washed away. Derna’s infrastructure was completely destroyed, including all roads and bridges.
The flood uprooted trees and damaged hundreds of vehicles. After the natural disaster, electricity and water supply were cut off. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Wednesday that electricity and internet services had been partially restored.
Challenges for rescuers
Libyan officials have invited international search and rescue support and rescue teams have arrived in the country from Egypt, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Qatar.
The rescue operation is hampered by destroyed roads and bridges, making it impossible to travel to the affected areas. Another problem is the lack of body bags. Officials say the country has never faced a crash of this magnitude.
But the main obstacle is the unstable political situation in Libya. The country has been mired in conflict and unrest since 2011, when an uprising toppled Muammar Gaddafi’s decades-long dictatorship. This split the state in half and spawned many warring militias vying for power.
New Athletistic
Read Athletistic on Google News
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.