2023-09-12 14:19:55
Floods caused by Storm Daniel that devastated the eastern Libyan city of Derna left more than 2,300 dead and around 7,000 injured, emergency services reported on Tuesday.
Images circulating from the city of Derna, with a population of 100,000, show several buildings on the banks of a river collapsing and small houses disappearing into rising waters after two dams burst.
Aerial view of floods in Libya. | Photo: WEEK
Among the deceased are three volunteers from the Libyan Red Crescent who were helping people affected by the disaster, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Tuesday.
Floods in Libya. | Photo: WEEK
Apocalyptic landscape
“The humanitarian needs far exceed the capabilities of the Libyan Red Crescent and even the capabilities of the government,” Tamer Ramadan of the IFRC warned in Geneva.
In this image provided by the Libyan Government, a coastal road is seen destroyed after heavy flooding in Derna, Libya, on Monday, September 11, 2023. (Libo Government via AP) | Photo: WEEK
Blocked roads, landslides and flooding prevented emergency services from reaching the population of the affected areas, who had to resort to rudimentary means to recover the bodies and extract the survivors from the mud.
Floods in Libya block roads and paths. | Photo: WEEK
Derna and other cities are isolated from the rest of the country despite efforts by authorities to restore mobile phone and internet networks.
In this image released by the Libyan government, a vehicle lies on a tree after being swept away by a flood, Monday, September 11, 2023, in Derna, Libya. (Libya government via AP) | Photo: WEEK
Since the violent earthquake that shook the city of Al Marj (east) in 1963, this is the worst natural disaster to hit this area of the country.
Among the images circulating, some show dozens of bodies wrapped in blankets and sheets, in the main square of Derna, waiting to be identified and buried in Martouba, a small town about 30 km to the southeast.
Road damaged in Libya by floods. | Photo: WEEK
Humanitarian mobilization
Aid convoys from the west of the country were sent towards Derna. The government of Tripoli, led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, announced the sending of two medical planes and a helicopter, with 87 doctors, a team of rescuers and research, as well as technicians to restore power.
Floods in Libya | Photo: AFP
Eastern Libya is home to the main oil fields and terminals. The National Oil Company (NOC) has declared a “state of maximum alert” and “suspended flights” between production centers, where activity has been drastically reduced.
Floods in Derma, Libya. | Photo: AFP or licensors
Emergency teams sent by Turkey also arrived in the disaster area, according to authorities.
The US ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, announced that the embassy had issued a “statement of humanitarian needs (that) will authorize initial funding” for his country to provide aid to emergency teams, according to a message on -Twitter).
Floods in Libya | Photo: AFP or licensors
The European Union (EU) also said it was willing to send aid, as the bloc’s head of diplomacy, Josep Borrel, also stated in X.
Described by experts as an “extreme in terms of the amount of water fallen” phenomenon, Storm Daniel affected Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria in recent days, leaving 27 dead.
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