On a fateful Tuesday, emergency responders in Libya's eastern city of Derna uncovered a grim reality as they retrieved over 1,500 lifeless bodies from the wreckage. The catastrophe unfolded as floodwaters breached dams, erasing entire neighborhoods and leaving despair in their wake. With approximately 10,000 people still reported missing, the death toll soared past 5,300, a stark contrast to earlier estimations of 2,300 casualties by Derna's ambulance authority.
The unprecedented devastation, wrought by Mediterranean storm Daniel, not only underscores the ferocity of the tempest but also highlights the fragility of a nation mired in more than a decade of chaos. Libya's division into rival governments, one in the east and the other in the west, has resulted in widespread neglect of vital infrastructure.
Outside assistance began trickling into Derna over 36 hours after the disaster, as the floods had damaged or obliterated many access roads to the city, home to approximately 89,000 residents. Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded with bodies covered by blankets in hospital yards and mass graves overflowing with the deceased. As of Tuesday evening, over half of the collected corpses had been laid to rest, according to the health minister for eastern Libya.
However, the actual toll is expected to be much higher, likely reaching into the thousands. Tamer Ramadan, Libya envoy for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, revealed that over 40,000 people had been displaced, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The devastation descended upon Derna and other parts of eastern Libya on a fateful Sunday night. As the storm relentlessly pounded the coast, residents heard the thunderous collapse of dams outside the city, unleashing catastrophic flash floods down the Wadi Derna, a river coursing through the heart of the city and into the sea. The wall of water obliterated everything in its path, leaving behind mud and wreckage where thriving neighborhoods once stood.
While Libya's National Meteorological Center had issued early warnings for Storm Daniel, describing it as an "extreme weather event," questions lingered about how the rains managed to breach two dams outside Derna. Whether due to inadequate maintenance or an overwhelming volume of rain, the exact cause remains uncertain.
The city of Derna had suffered years of neglect, exacerbated by factionalism, as it was controlled by Islamic militant groups before coming under the authority of military commander Khalifa Haftar in 2019. The division between the eastern and western governments further complicated recovery efforts, as mutual mistrust hindered cooperation.
Nevertheless, initial responses to the disaster demonstrated some unity, with the western government dispatching aid to Benghazi and allocating significant funds for reconstruction in Derna and other eastern towns. International assistance began arriving, but challenges in distributing aid persisted, prompting calls for a sea corridor.
Amidst the tragedy, President Joe Biden pledged emergency funds and support to Libya, emphasizing solidarity with the affected families. The storm also wreaked havoc in other parts of eastern Libya, with the town of Bayda reporting about 50 casualties and widespread displacement in Susa, Marj, and Shahatt. Northeast Libya, known for its fertility and greenery, found itself grappling with the aftermath of nature's fury, leaving a profound mark on the nation's landscape and its people.