The Libyan Red Crescent has grimly announced that the death toll from the catastrophic flooding in Derna has soared to an astonishing 11,000, with the numbers expected to climb further as rescue and recovery efforts persist, revealing more bodies buried beneath the mud.
The disaster has left an estimated 30,000 residents homeless, casting a grim shadow over the city’s future. In response to this immense human tragedy, political leaders are now pressing for an official investigation into the devastating flooding.
The catastrophe has underscored the critical issue of infrastructure maintenance in Libya, with many locals pointing fingers at the lack of adequate upkeep as a contributing factor to the disaster.
The United Nations has also voiced its concerns, particularly criticizing the country’s alert system for its apparent inadequacy in warning and protecting residents.
Speaking on the matter, the head of the World Meteorological Organization expressed profound sorrow over the loss of life and asserted that the majority of casualties could have been averted if timely warnings had been issued, affording residents the crucial opportunity to evacuate safely.
Survivors’ harrowing accounts have revealed the grim reality of the situation, recounting the tragic loss of entire families and terrifying escapes as torrents of water swept away their loved ones before their eyes.
The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization has emphasized that this disaster’s scale could have been mitigated had comprehensive warnings been disseminated effectively to the population.
Adding to the devastation, the International Organization for Migration reported that approximately 30,000 people are now grappling with the harsh reality of homelessness.
The UN’s humanitarian agency has also raised alarms about the looming danger of disease outbreaks stemming from contaminated water sources in the aftermath of the deluge.
By xamse
September 15, 2023
