According to Chinanews.com, Hurricane Daniel hit eastern Libya in North Africa on the 10th, causing serious flooding. According to officials in eastern Liberia, the flood death toll in the eastern city of Derna has exceeded 5,300. The Red Cross warned that the death toll from the massive floods in eastern Libya is expected to rise sharply, with at least 10,000 missing.
The floods caused two dams in the east to burst, causing severe damage and washing many communities into the sea. Analysts believe that the dam burst is only the trigger for natural disasters. Political fragmentation, economic instability, environmental degradation, and dilapidated infrastructure have come together to lead to disaster.
Local officials said the floods caused two dams near the Libyan coastal city of Derna, to burst their banks, destroying much of the city and even washing entire neighborhoods into the sea. Shichem Abu Chikiwat, an official in eastern Libya, said: "It is no exaggeration to say that a quarter of the city has disappeared and many buildings have collapsed. ”
According to a comparison of satellites before and after the Derna flood, the city's infrastructure was severely damaged. Local resident Sandos Shuwaib said on social media platforms that she was at home when floodwaters suddenly washed away. "There are corpses next to me, corpses above me, corpses below me." Sandos was eventually washed into shallow water and taken to hospital. "I don't know what happened, my family disappeared."
Another local resident, Raja Sasi, recalled that he thought it was just a torrential rain, but he heard an explosion in the middle of the night and later learned that the dam had decided on the levee. "Only me, my wife and my little daughter survived, everyone else died."
Rami Ershahibi, the World Health Organization's Libyan national communications officer, said an "incomprehensible catastrophe" was taking place in Derna. Rescuer Qassem Katani revealed that it was difficult for outside rescuers to reach Derna because the road was badly damaged. Now there is no clean drinking water and medical supplies in Derna. "The only local hospital can no longer accept patients because there are more than 700 bodies of victims waiting to be treated."
Shanib, chairman of the National Committee on U.S.-Libya Relations, said he used to go to Drna a lot, "where the situation is very exaggerated." The only local hospital still operating is a five-bedroom rental villa. ”
The analysis argues that the flood was not accidental. Derna is located on the Mediterranean coast. As the climate warms, rising Mediterranean levels, shoreline erosion and heavy precipitation from hurricanes combine to lead to disasters. In addition, political fragmentation, economic instability and environmental degradation exacerbated the disaster.
Libya has long been politically divided. The UN-recognized Government of National Unity and the forces supporting it control the western region, while the Libyan National Congress, allied with the "National Army", controls mainly the eastern and central regions. The Derna, where the flood occurred, fell under the control of the latter. Due to the long-standing antagonism and contradictions between the two Governments, rescue efforts may face many difficulties.
From an infrastructure point of view, the infrastructure of the city of Derna is old and in disrepair. Before the disaster, there were reportedly calls for immediate measures to maintain the dam. But the reality is that the city's dams haven't been repaired for more than 20 years, and the rest of the city's infrastructure can't withstand flooding. The two collapsed dams have not been maintained since 2002, and they are not large, one of which is only 70 meters. Last year, Libyan hydrologist Ashore noted that repeated flooding posed a serious threat to Derna.
To sum up, the occurrence of flood disasters is not only related to natural factors, but also related to human factors. Natural factors such as climate change, rising levels in the Mediterranean Sea and heavy precipitation caused by hurricanes provide the conditions for disasters to occur. Political fragmentation, economic instability and environmental degradation exacerbated the magnitude of the disaster. In addition, old infrastructure and lack of maintenance are among the causes of the severe consequences of disasters.