Libya’s Devastating Floods, September, 2023
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Libya is struggling to deal with the thousands of bodies being recovered in the aftermath of devastating floods. Overwhelmed officials have registered nearly 4,000 – a number that is expected to rise as more bodies are found. Corpses are washing up on the coast after being swept out to sea when torrential rains caused two dams to burst, causing flash floods that destroyed large parts of the city of Derna. The World Health Organization has urged Libyan authorities to stop burying victims in mass graves, to avert future legal and emotional problems. Meanwhile, the Red Cross is warning that the floods may have uprooted landmines and explosives left over from the country’s years of conflict. Despite the many dangers, helpers are scouring the wreckage, in the video published on Sep 16, 2023, by DW News, as “Why the floods in Libya were so destructive and deadly | DW News“, below:
Days after tsunami-like flooding, aid agencies are warning of an impending health crisis, with waterborne diseases increasingly becoming a threat. Emergency teams in the eastern city of Derna are intensifying their search for bodies. Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford reports, in the video published on Sep 15, 2023, by Al Jazeera English, as “Libya flooding: Authorities warn of impending health crisis“, below:
International aid efforts intensify as death toll in flooded Libya soars to over 11,000 killed. The heavy rains burst two upstream dams late Sunday, September 10, 2023, and has left apocalyptic scenes in the city of Derna. Isolated Morocco earthquake survivors feel forgotten by state as they await help and Nigeria power grid collapse causes nationwide blackouts, in the video published on Sep 14, 2023, by FRANCE 24 English, as “Libya floods kill over 11,300 as city of Derna is swept away. FRANCE24 English“, below:
There are fears that as many as 20,000 people may have died in the flooding that’s devastated northern Libya after dams burst during storms. The coastal city of Derna suffered the worst of the disaster. There have been desperate calls for more humanitarian support as victims lie wrapped in body bags and others have been buried in mass graves. Many people were washed out to sea when the floods struck. Rescue teams have been digging through the rubble of collapsed buildings in the hope of finding survivors. At least 30,000 people are said to be homeless. Sophie Raworth presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Quentin Sommerville and Frank Gardner.in the video published on Sep 13, 2023, by BBC News, as “Libya floods: fears that 20,000 have died – BBC News“, below:
We get an update from Libya, where at least 6,000 are feared dead after a catastrophic cyclone hit the eastern city of Derna, causing two dams to burst and flooding whole sections of the city. Storm victims are being buried in mass graves as hope is dwindling for those who have been unable to locate friends and family members. Libya’s infrastructure has crumbled over years of civil war, NATO intervention and political instability; Derna’s dams have not been maintained since 2002. Ahead of the storm, the government did not declare an emergency or carry out evacuations. “It’s obviously our government’s fault,” says Libyan youth climate activist Nissa Bek in Tripoli. She notes Libya’s lack of investment in risk mitigation or climate adaptation means the scale of the disaster was not a surprise. “I’m hoping that this tragedy could be the turning point for all of this, and for them to actually take the climate crisis more seriously,” adds Bek, in the video published on Sep 13, 2023, by Democracy Now!, as “Death Toll from Libyan Floods Tops 6,000 in Latest Climate Disaster“, below:
Scenes of devastation have emerged out of Libya following catastrophic flooding in the eastern part of the country. More than 5,000 people were feared dead, with about 10,000 more reported missing after massive floods swept away entire neighbourhoods. Authorities warn the death toll could climb further as recovery efforts get under way, in the video published on Sep 13, 2023, by South China Morning Post, as “10,000 missing after catastrophic Libya floods“, below:
A state of emergency in Eastern Libya. Widespread floods have killed thousands of people and left thousands more unaccounted for. Entire neighbourhoods are under water and trapped families desperately need help. But Libya’s political divisions appear to be getting in the way. The country’s two rival governments have their own resources and their own approach to this disaster. Without a united response rescue operations have inevitably been delayed. So how will Libya manage this devastation? And can this crisis be a catalyst for political unity – or will it fuel rivalry? Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom Guests Salah ElBakkoush, political analyst and former senior adviser to both the negotiating team in the high council of states, and the Libyan Government of National Accord. Anas El Gomati, founder and director of Sadeq Institute, the first public policy think tank in Libya, in the video published on Sep 12, 2023, by Al Jazeera English, as “How will Libya deal with the aftermath of the floods?| Inside Story“, below:
To find out more about the Storm Daniel mentioned in the video above, from excerpt from wikipedia, in italics, below:
Storm Daniel, also known as Cyclone Daniel, was the deadliest and costliest Mediterranean tropical-like cyclone ever recorded as well as the deadliest cyclone worldwide since Cyclone Nargis in 2008. It was also the deadliest weather event of 2023 to date.[4] Forming as a low-pressure system around 4 September 2023, the storm affected Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey with extensive flooding. The storm then organized as a Mediterranean low and was designated as Storm Daniel. It soon acquired quasi-tropical characteristics and moved toward the coast of Libya, where it caused catastrophic flooding before degenerating into a remnant low. The storm was the result of an omega block, as a high-pressure zone became sandwiched between two zones of low pressure, with the isobars shaping like the Greek letter Ω.[5][6]
In Greece, the storm was considered the worst in recorded history, with severe rainfall leading to flooding that caused more than 2 billion euros in damage. Libya was hit the hardest, with torrential rains causing two dams near the city of Derna to fail. This resulted in thousands of deaths, with between 10,000 and 100,000 people missing, although exact figures varied by source. Libya’s vulnerability to such disasters was blamed on its civil war, which damaged critical infrastructure and left it in poor condition before Daniel. In the aftermath, several countries along the Mediterranean Sea pledged to provide aid to affected countries.
An area of low pressure developed over the Ionian Sea with its surface temperature within the range of tropical transition.[7] On 4 September 2023 it moved southwards over the Balkan Peninsula which led to torrential rains, notably over the Thessaly region.[7] The system became a mediterranean cyclone over the Ionian Sea the following day, and was named Storm Daniel by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service.[8] During the following days, the system moved southeastward, peaking as a subtropical storm with winds recorded by instruments on Metop at 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph).[9]
The storm then made landfall near the city of Benghazi in Libya. On 10 September 2023, Daniel went east and continued inland before degenerating into a remnant low due to dry air and land interaction later on, with the storm fully dissipating by 12 September 2023.[citation needed]
Flooding in eastern Libya centered around the city of Derna has left about 6,000 dead and thousands more missing. With deep divisions between Libya’s two rival governments, questions are being asked about how prepared Libya was for such a disaster. We speak to Libyans and a climate change expert to get the latest on the disaster, in the video published on Sep 14, 2023, by Al Jazeera English, as “Why did Libya’s floods leave so many people dead? | The Take“, below:
More than 5,000 bodies have been recovered from Libya’s flood-affected areas. Local authorities fear the death toll could climb to 10,000. The city of Derna has experienced the worst of the flooding after two burst dams wiped out a quarter of the city. Before the floods, tens of thousands of people lived in Derna but the city now lies in ruins. Entire communities washed away into the sea when the river burst its banks and the catastrophe was made far worse after two dams burst, unleashing torrents of raging water. An international aid effort is underway but with roads cut and bridges destroyed, it could be days before help reaches people who need it the most, in the video published on Sep 13, 2023, by Sky News Australia, as “Libya’s flood death toll passes 5,000 as fears grow the number will rise considerably“, below:
Gathered, written, and posted by Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker More about the community at www.WindermereSun.com
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