(VOVWORLD) - About 7,000 people have been reported dead or missing after two old dams collapsed Sunday night in the city of Derna in eastern Libya. The dam collapse swept away many houses and emergency rescue work is under way.
 A view of the area has been damaged after floods caused by heavy rains hit the region in Misrata, Libya on September 10, 2023. (Photo Getty Images) |
As many as 2,000 people died and thousands more were missing after Mediterranean storm Daniel ripped through the city of Derna on Sunday afternoon. Earlier the storm hit Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, killing at least 27 people.
24 hours of rain caused two dams in Derna to collapse, sweeping away at least one residential area. Videos recorded at the scene showed the entire residential area along the river flowing through the city center wiped out.
Ahmed Mismari, spokesperson for the Libyan National Army, which controls eastern Libya, said whole neighborhoods and their residents were swept into the sea. Witnesses said the water level exceeded 3 meters.
Local leaders declared the situation in the city “out of control and a catastrophe”. In Benghazi, Libya's second largest city, flood waters are rising.
A state of emergency has been declared in the affected areas. It has been impossible to make an accurate count of the deaths because communication networks are disrupted and management is already made difficult by a decades-long battle for power in Libya.
Libya’s Presidential Council has called on the international community to help the flood recovery effort and open a sea corridor to facilitate disaster relief work.
The United Nations representative in Libya said the UN will support emergency relief efforts at the local and national level.
Aid agencies and developed states including the United Arab Emirates are rushing to provide emergency aid to areas that need stretchers, food, and water. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani instructed his government to send aid.
Libya's eastern parliament, led by Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha, declared three days of national mourning for the flood victims.
Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, who has been recognized by the UN as Libya's Prime Minister in Tripoli in western Libya, also declared three days of mourning in all affected cities.