The mayor of Derna, Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi, has expressed worry that the number of fatalities in Derna alone could top 20,000 due to the severity of the destruction.
According to media sources, Libya’s chief prosecutor has taken the initiative to look into the recent collapse of two dams during severe flooding, concentrating on whether better maintenance procedures may have averted the catastrophe. At a news conference, he reportedly said, “I reassure citizens that whoever made mistakes or negligence, prosecutors will certainly take firm measures, file a criminal case against him, and send him to trial.” He said that about $8 million had been set aside for dam upkeep. Investigations will be conducted into the distribution and use of maintenance funding.
This occurs at the same time as the UN highlighted on September 14 how many flood-related deaths in Libya’s Derna could have been avoided if early warning and emergency management mechanisms had been in place and functioning correctly.
Eastern Libya witnessed significant flooding as a result of the Mediterranean storm Daniel’s torrential rains. Due to this, two dams close to the port city of Derna collapsed earlier this week, severely damaging a quarter of the area, which was later designated a disaster zone.
According to media sources citing Libya’s attorney general Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, examinations conducted decades ago showed weaknesses in the two dams. The main purpose of the dams was to protect the city from flooding.
According to Al-Sour, these analyses showed subsidence and fissures that could have eventually caused the dam to collapse.
To identify victims and determine the reasons of death, a team made up of 26 prosecutors would be sent to Derna, he said. An exact death toll is yet unavailable because investigations are ongoing.
shocking number of fatalities
The disastrous floods left at least 11,300 people dead as of Friday (September 15), while another 10,100 were reported missing, according to the Libyan Red Crescent.
The mayor of Derna, Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi, has expressed worry that the number of fatalities in Derna alone could top 20,000 due to the severity of the destruction.
high rainfall
The northern city of Bayda received more than 16 inches of rain in a 24-hour period, according to the National Center of Meteorology of Libya. According to reports, climate scientists have connected this catastrophe to the effects of a warming world, which have been made worse by years of political unrest and decaying infrastructure in the nation.