Massive floods devastate eastern Libya: over 2,000 feared dead, thousands missing

Tripoli: Eastern Libya is reeling from a catastrophic flood that has left at least 2,000 people dead, and thousands more are missing.

The disaster struck the city of Derna following heavy storms and rainfall.

The Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls eastern Libya, reported the disaster after dams above Derna collapsed, causing extensive damage and sweeping entire neighbourhoods into the sea. The spokesperson for the LNA, Ahmed Mismari, stated that the number of missing individuals ranges from 5,000 to 6,000, reported Reuters.

Initially, the head of the Red Crescent aid group in the region had reported that the death toll in Derna was around 150 and was expected to rise to 250, but these figures remain unverified.

The situation in Libya has been dire for years due to political divisions between eastern and western regions, and public services have significantly deteriorated since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that led to prolonged conflict. The internationally recognised government in Tripoli does not have control over the eastern areas of the country.

In response to the disaster, the Presidential Council in Tripoli, which serves as the head of state in Libya's divided political landscape, called on the international community for assistance.

Storm Daniel, which had previously ravaged Greece, swept over the Mediterranean and inundated Derna, destroying roads, buildings, and affecting other coastal settlements, including Benghazi, the country's second-largest city.

Visuals from Derna showed a wide torrent flowing through the city centre, where a much narrower waterway had existed before. Buildings on both sides of the watercourse lay in ruins.

Witnesses reported people stranded on the roofs of their vehicles, calling for help, while floodwaters washed away cars. The level of the water reached up to 10 feet.

The disaster led to the closure of four major oil ports in Libya, including Ras Lanuf, Zueitina, Brega, and Es Sidra, for three days.

Search-and-rescue operations were underway, with authorities declaring a state of extreme emergency, imposing a curfew, and closing schools and stores. The interim government in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, declared three days of mourning in all the affected cities, labelling them "disaster areas."

The United Nations in Libya pledged to provide urgent relief assistance to support response efforts at local and national levels. Additionally, Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, instructed the government to send aid to the affected areas in eastern Libya.