Libya Conducts Mass Evacuation Amidst Search for 10,000 Unaccounted Persons After Fatalities Surpass 11,000

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Libyan officials carried out a large-scale evacuation of a flood-hit city this past Friday while restricting entry to the area, as rescue teams sifted through mud and devastated structures in search of 10,000 individuals who remain missing and are presumed deceased. The floods have thus far claimed over 11,000 lives.

Health and security officials have issued warnings about the potential for additional casualties due to waterborne diseases and displaced explosives.

Two dams ruptured early Monday due to intense rainfall from Mediterranean storm Daniel, unleashing a torrent of water several meters high that cascaded through a valley intersecting the city of Derna.

Libya’s ongoing political instability and unprecedented flooding have exacerbated the scale of the disaster. The country, rich in oil reserves, has been fractured since 2014 with competing governments in the eastern and western regions, each backed by divergent militias and international supporters.

Further Reports on Libyan Flooding

• Satellite Imagery Illustrates Devastating Flood Impact with Over 11,000 Fatalities in Libya
• Entire Families Perish in Libyan Flooding: Awareness of Hazard Realized Too Late
• Death Count Rises to 11,300 in Flood-Afflicted Coastal City of Derna, According to Aid Organization

In a rare show of unity, government agencies from both sides of Libya’s political divide have been mobilized to assist affected communities. Nonetheless, relief operations have been hindered due to destroyed connecting bridges in the city.

The streets of Derna are awash with debris, including bent metal and submerged vehicles, covered in a layer of light brown mud. Eastern Libya’s Health Minister, Othman Abduljaleel, announced that mass graves have been established both in and around the city for the deceased.

Concerns are escalating that many more bodies remain undiscovered.

Bilal Sablouh, Regional Forensics Manager for Africa at the International Committee of the Red Cross, noted the grim sight of bodies strewn across streets, reappearing on shores, or buried under rubble. In a two-hour span, more than 200 bodies were counted on a beach near Derna.

Search efforts also extend offshore as divers scour the surrounding coastal waters.

Survivor Adel Ayad recounted the terrifying experience of watching floodwaters rise up to the fourth floor of his building, sweeping away people, including his neighbors.

To facilitate rescue operations, Salam al-Fergany, Director General of the Ambulance and Emergency Service in eastern Libya, announced late Thursday that only search-and-rescue teams would be permitted to enter evacuated Derna.

Although dead bodies generally do not pose a health risk in these circumstances, standing water creates a fertile environment for disease, cautioned Dr. Margaret Harris, spokesperson for the World Health Organization.

Imene Trabelsi, spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross, pointed out another lurking hazard: landmines and other unexploded ordnances displaced by the floods could pose immediate risks to rescue teams and future risks to civilians.

According to the International Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, between 2011 and 2021, some 3,457 individuals were killed or injured by landmines and explosive remnants in Libya.

As of Thursday, the Libyan Red Crescent reported that the death toll in Derna stood at 11,300 with another 10,100 individuals missing. The flood has also claimed approximately 170 lives in other parts of Libya.

Reports also emerged of dozens of Sudanese migrants perishing in the disaster. Libya serves as a significant transit hub for migrants from the Middle East and Africa seeking to enter Europe.

This level of devastation from flooding is unusual for Libya, generally prone to milder flooding during its rainy season. Experts suggest that climate change could be a contributing factor to the extreme nature of this event.

Political turmoil in Libya has also been cited as a contributing factor to the extensive loss of life. Derna resident Khalifa Othman expressed his grievances, blaming the authorities for the lack of disaster preparedness.

“My entire family is missing, and we continue to search for them,” said Othman. “The community is distressed and furious; there was no preparedness for such an event.”

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Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News journalists Samy Magdy in Cairo, Jack Jeffery in London, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, and Abby Sewell in Beirut.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Libyan Flooding

More about Libyan Flooding

• Libyan Flooding: Thousands Missing and Over 11,000 Dead
• Mediterranean storm Daniel triggers dams collapse in Libya
• Libya’s Ongoing Political Instability
• Health Concerns in Flooded Areas
• Explosive Remnants in Libya
• Climate Change and Extreme Flooding
• Impact on Migrant Population
• Lack of Disaster Preparedness