Over 6000 Dead Due to Floods in Libya; International Rescue Efforts to Find Survivors

Rescue workers on Wednesday, September 13, searched through the streets and rubble in the coastal city of "Derna" near the Mediterranean Sea in Libya for possible survivors and the bodies of victims following the collapse of two dams last Sunday night due to relentless rainfall. The destruction of the two dams unleashed a massive flood that has claimed at least 6000 lives. More than 7000 residents of "Derna", located about 900 kilometers east of Tripoli, the capital, have been injured, and thousands remain missing, while many others have been left homeless. Emergency services officials report that about a quarter of the city of "Derna" has been destroyed by the flooding. Currently, only two roads in the southern part of the city are usable, and the collapse of bridges has made it difficult for rescuers to reach the area. Joe Biden, the President of the United States, has pledged that his country will send money to aid organizations and coordinate further assistance with Libyan officials and the United Nations. Governments from Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Italy have dispatched aid teams to Libya. Germany has also sent supplies including blankets, sleeping bags, tents, water filters, and generators. The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Libya stated that waves rose to heights of 7 meters during the storm. The widespread destruction caused by the storm highlights Libya's vulnerability, as the North African country is divided by rival governments in the east and west, resulting in significant neglect of infrastructure in many areas. This natural disaster comes at a time when Libya is politically divided between eastern and western regions, and public service structures have collapsed since a NATO-backed uprising in 2011. The Tripoli government, recognized by international circles, does not control eastern Libya but has sent aid to "Derna". Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has issued a statement expressing condolences to those affected by the devastating floods in Libya. The statement adds that the United States is coordinating with its partners in the United Nations and Libyan officials on how to assist ongoing relief efforts. Storm and flood in Libya; 10,000 people are missing.