A devastating storm and subsequent flooding have left a trail of destruction in the city of Derna, located in eastern Libya. It is feared that at least 2,000 people may have lost their lives in this disaster, according to statements made by Osama Hamad, the prime minister of a self-proclaimed government based in eastern Libya. He also noted that thousands of individuals are currently missing, although he did not specify the source of his information.
The head of the Red Crescent in Benghazi, Kais Fhakeri, has confirmed that Storm Daniel, as the weather event has been named, has claimed the lives of at least 150 people in Derna. The city witnessed water levels rising as high as three meters (10 feet) during the storm. Two dams in the area have also collapsed, contributing to the widespread devastation. Videos posted online reveal entire residential blocks being swept away by the surging waters of Wadi Derna, a river that flows through the city.
The impact of Storm Daniel extended beyond Derna, affecting other cities including Benghazi, Susa, Bayda, al-Marj, and more. Social media footage depicted individuals stranded on the roofs of their vehicles as they struggled to cope with the storm’s relentless onslaught.
Tragically, casualties extended beyond Derna. At least 12 people lost their lives in Bayda, another seven perished in the coastal town of Susa, and seven more were reported dead in the towns of Shahatt and Omar al-Mokhtar. An additional individual was confirmed dead in al-Marj, where he was trapped in his car amidst the flooding.
The Libyan Red Crescent reported losing contact with one of its workers who was attempting to assist a stranded family in Bayda. Dozens of others are still missing, raising concerns that they may have fallen victim to the floods that wreaked havoc on homes and properties in various towns in eastern Libya.
The missing individuals include seven members of the Libyan National Army (LNA), a force led by the renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, which holds sway over the eastern part of the divided country, according to Ahmad Mismari, an LNA spokesperson.
The destructive floods washed away vehicles and caused the collapse of a road between Susa and Shahat, home to the Greek-founded and UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Cyrene.
As a result of the disaster, Libya’s eastern-based parliament declared three days of mourning. Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the prime minister of the internationally-recognized interim government in Tripoli, also declared three days of mourning for all the affected cities, designating them as “disaster areas.”
Search and rescue operations remain ongoing, with authorities declaring a state of extreme emergency. Schools and stores have been closed, and a curfew has been imposed to ensure public safety.
Despite his limited influence in eastern Libya, Prime Minister Dbeibah pledged to direct all state agencies to respond urgently to the damage and flooding in the affected cities. His government is recognized by the Central Bank of Libya, which allocates funds to government departments across the country.
The United Nations in Libya has closely monitored the storm’s impact and pledged to provide urgent relief assistance to support response efforts at local and national levels.