The appointed Libyan government by the parliament has raised concerns over the rapidly increasing death toll due to the recent floods. Osman Abdel Jalil, the Minister of Health in this government, confirmed that “over 2,000 casualties were recorded in the city of Derna alone, resulting from the devastating floods that struck the eastern part of the country.”
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Abdel Jalil stated, “Communication with the hospitals in Derna has been cut off, necessitating an urgent response plan.” He further estimates that the casualty numbers could soar beyond 10,000, in addition to thousands missing.
Rescue operations are facing significant challenges in the flood-affected regions. It is speculated that the floods and subsequent inundation were caused by the collapse of two dams in Derna.
Earlier, the head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohammed Al-Menfi, called upon international countries and organizations to extend support and assistance to the disaster-stricken areas. This is in line with maritime rescue efforts to retrieve victims, assist survivors, and secure essential supplies.
Ahmed Al-Mismari, the spokesperson for the Libyan National Army, conveyed to the ‘Sputnik’ agency on Monday that “between 5,000 to 6,000 people have gone missing in eastern Libya due to the floods instigated by storm ‘Daniel’.”
Previously, the head of the parliament-appointed Libyan government, Osama Hammad, revealed that “the death toll from the floods in the city of Derna has surpassed 2,000 individuals.”
Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the head of the interim unity government in Libya, previously announced a national mourning period of three days, during which flags will be flown at half-mast, to honor the lives lost in the floods.
Last Sunday, Libyan authorities declared the city of Sousa, located in the east, a disaster zone after it faced severe floods and torrents due to the Mediterranean storm ‘Daniel’ that hit the eastern region of Libya.
Libya, primarily a desert nation, is not typically associated with floods. However, with the changing global climate and extreme weather conditions, the nation now confronts an unprecedented disaster. The destruction caused by the collapse of dams and the severe impacts of storm ‘Daniel’ have turned entire cities into disaster zones, prompting urgent international assistance.