Devastating Floods in Derna: Derna in eastern Libya was calm until it became a nightmare. Abdel-Hamid al-Hassadi, 23, just finished law school and faced a dire situation. On September 10, heavy rain changed lives significantly.
As the rain worsened, Abdel-Hamid and his family sought shelter on the top floor of their house. They didn’t realize this choice would decide their fate. Floodwater turned Derna into a watery war in minutes. Buildings were swept away.
It was difficult to determine the issue. Abdel-Hamid al-Hassadi dwelled on the terrible event and its subsequent sadness. “We witnessed the severity of the accident,” he said. The strong waves carried away their neighbors’ bodies, leaving a lasting horror mark.
The disaster occurred due to the Mediterranean storm. Daniel repeatedly struck Abu Mansour and Derna dams until they shattered. The wave of water caused widespread destruction as it tore through the city.
Derna and its people coped with what happened as time passed. No one knew the death toll or extent of damage. Families worried about lost loved ones, like Abdel-Hamid’s. For him, what happened would impact 290 cousins’ lives.
About 20% of the city was flooded, and the death toll varies across news sources. The WHO reported 3,958 hospital deaths. Initially, Libya’s Red Crescent reported 11,300 deaths. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said 9,000 people are still missing.
During the chaos, people in Derna, including women and children, gathered at places with bodies. They were eager to find out who was in the body bags the medics brought.
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Due to bad weather, over 40,000 people evacuated homes in eastern Libya. Only 30K went to Derna for safety. They sought refuge in different regions of the country, receiving assistance and accommodation from the local residents or schools. Living in flooded areas carries risks, such as the spread of waterborne diseases.
Rana Ksaifi from the UN office for refugees in Libya said floods caused “unimaginable destruction.” The ongoing fights in the war-torn country worsened due to natural disasters.
Al-Hassadi and other survivors are uncertain about the future. Libyans seek justice and global assistance, showing their strength. Since Gadhafi died in 2011, Libya has been in political chaos. People expect leaders to provide answers and take action.
In times of trouble and disaster, these people are rebuilding their lives while seeking justice, openness, and help from a world that can’t ignore their pain.
Our Reader’s Queries
When did the catastrophic flooding occur in Derna?
A month has passed since catastrophic dam collapses in Derna, Libya, triggered tsunami-like floods after Storm Daniel hit on September 10. The Libyan Red Crescent wasted no time in springing into action, leading the way in evacuating residents, administering first aid, and conducting search and rescue operations in the affected areas of north-east Libya.
When was the flooding in Derna?
On September 9, Storm Daniel made landfall in Libya, leading to substantial flooding when two dams near Derna collapsed the following day. The resulting deluge swept away entire neighborhoods and caused extensive damage to vital sewage and water systems. The UN reports that these infrastructural losses have yet to be fixed.
What was the cause of the Derna flooding?
Salem Mansour, 27, who lost his sister in the disaster, attributed the main cause of the calamity to the dam situated south of Derna, which had not received adequate maintenance. He expressed his conviction from the hospital in Tobruk that more preventative measures could and should have been taken to avert the tragedy.
What caused Derna disaster?
The global focus is now on the devastating situation in Derna, Libya, where the Wadi Derna River dams collapsed due to heavy rainfall from Storm Daniel. The city was hit by severe flooding on September 10 as a result.