Libya Flood: Death Toll Could Reach 20,000 as Thousands Remain Missing

Marrakech – In the wake of a catastrophic flood that has left the eastern Libyan city of Derna in ruins, Mayor al-Ghaithi has warned that the death toll may eventually climb to a staggering 20,000, as thousands remain missing and rescue operations grapple with the extent of the devastation.

The disaster was triggered by Storm Daniel, which unleashed a torrent of water, sweeping away homes and families in its path, Al Jazeera reported earlier today.

Derna, a Mediterranean city in Libya, was the hardest-hit by the flooding, as a usually dry riverbed overflowed and dams above the city burst on Sunday night. Multistorey buildings were tragically reduced to rubble, with occupants trapped inside as they slept.

The scale of the tragedy is staggering, with officials estimating that approximately 10,000 individuals are currently unaccounted for. However, the United Nations aid agency, OCHA, suggests the number may be even higher, exceeding 5,000 missing persons.

As residents grapple with grief and uncertainty, the city’s beaches have become hauntingly strewn with the remnants of lives swept away: clothes, toys, furniture, and personal possessions.

The city’s streets tell a grim story, covered in deep mud and marred by uprooted trees and the wreckage of hundreds of cars, some precariously perched on buildings’ upper floors.

Mayor al-Ghaithi appealed for specialized teams to recover bodies, expressing concerns about the potential for epidemics given the large number of casualties trapped under rubble and submerged in the floodwaters.

International assistance has begun to pour into Derna, with rescue teams arriving from countries including Egypt, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Qatar. These teams aim not only to rescue survivors but also to provide essential aid in the form of medical equipment, medicine, food, and tents.

The humanitarian response is crucial, but the rescue operations are undeniably complicated by the deep-seated political divisions that have plagued Libya since the NATO-backed uprising that ousted Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Currently, the country has two rival administrations, with the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) based in Tripoli in the west, and a parallel administration operating in the east, which includes Derna.

Criticism has arisen regarding local authorities in eastern Libya, including those in Derna, as some residents claim they were not adequately informed about the impending danger and were not given the opportunity to evacuate before the floodwaters inundated their city.

Questions about preparedness, communication, and coordination are likely to arise as the nation grapples with the aftermath of this tragic event.