Libyan coastal city of Derna was hit by a flash flood similar to tsunami on September, 10, 2023. The tremendous flood occurred as hurricane-force Mediterranean Storm Daniel pounded Libya. Earlier, the storm had caused devastating floods in Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria. After an entire week of limited aid supply and crisis, the international aid efforts picked up speed. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to save people who are still trapped under the rubble. Several countries including The United Arab Emirates, France, Malta, Iran, Russia, etc. have sent their rescue teams to Libya. Also, European and other Arab nations are putting their efforts to provide aid to the affectees in every manner possible.
According to the reports, 30,000 flood affectees are homeless with no access to clean water, sanitation, food, and other basic necessities. This horrific situation is raising the likelihood of malnutrition, dehydration, and several water borne diseases.
According to the health minister of eastern administration, Othman Abdeljalil, 3,252 people are confirmed dead. However, the death rate could increase up to more than 11,300 in Derna alone. According to the UN experts, the environmental variables and changing climate factors were one of the reasons behind this devastating flood. Also, the legacy of the Libyan war, which has destroyed the country's infrastructure, early warning systems, and emergency response.
The disaster in Libya was both predictable and preventable, however, the ignorant behavior towards obsolete structures that are long past their expiration date led to a disaster like this. This situation is a warning siren for other obsolete and expired dams and structures that exist in other countries. The only way to avoid such disasters is by removing expired structures altogether.
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