Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Libya Flood Death Toll: Derna flooding Could Take 20,000 Lives, Thousands Still Missing

Libya Flood Death Toll

Residents of the devastated Libyan city of Derna urgently searched for lost relatives as rescue personnel requested additional body bags following a horrific flood that killed thousands and washed more out to sea.

A torrent of water released by a violent storm that surged down a normally dry riverbed on Sunday night, bursting dams above the city, devastated swaths of the Mediterranean metropolis. Buildings with multiple stories collapsed, trapping sleeping families inside.

Lieutenant Tarek al-Kharraz, a spokesperson for the interior ministry, told AFP on Wednesday that 3,840 people had died in the Mediterranean city so far, with 3,190 already buried. At least 400 foreigners were among them, the most of whom were from Sudan and Egypt.

Meanwhile, Hichem Abu Chkiouat, minister of civil aviation in the authority that governs eastern Libya, told Reuters that more than 5,300 people had died so far, and that the figure was expected to rise dramatically, if not double.

According to Derna Mayor Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi, the projected number of dead in the city might range between 18,000 and 20,000 based on the number of districts damaged by the flood. Additionally, you can also read about- Earthquake in Morocco: Thousands Injured, Homes Destroyed, What’s Next?

Mahmud Abdulkarim, a Derna native, told journalist Moutaz Ali in Tripoli that he lost his mother and brother after failing to flee their first-floor apartment in time after a dam collapsed.

“She refused to leave her spot… “I didn’t expect the situation to be so bad and told him [Abdulkarim] it was just ordinary rains,” Ali said from a Derwani community function in Tripoli.

When Abdulkarim’s mother and brother finally decided to leave their flat, they were washed away by flooding once they reached the streets to evacuate.

Mabrooka Elmesmary, a journalist who escaped Derna on Tuesday, characterizes the city as a “massive disaster.” “There is no water, electricity, or petrol,” she explained.

She claimed that apartment complexes with families within had been carried away. “There’s a wave of displacement as people try to flee Derna, but many are stuck because many roads are blocked or gone,” Elmesmary said, adding that some families have taken refuge in schools.

Officials estimate that 10,000 people are missing. According to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, the amount is at least 5,000.

The beach was covered with clothes, toys, furniture, shoes, and other belongings washed away by the torrent.

The streets were strewn with uprooted trees and hundreds of destroyed cars, many of which had flipped on their sides or onto their roofs. One car was jammed on the second-floor balcony of a demolished structure.

The damage can be seen from high elevations above Derna, where the densely populated city center, which had been built along a seasonal riverbed, was now a wide, flat crescent of dirt with stretches of muddy water shining in the light. Buildings were destroyed.

Rescue Efforts

According to Derna mayor al-Ghaithi, rescue crews have arrived from Egypt, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Qatar.

“We actually need teams that specialize in body recovery,” he remarked. “I am concerned that the city will become infected with an epidemic as a result of the large number of bodies found under the rubble and in the water.”

According to Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from Benghazi, Qatar’s contribution to this “seemingly growing international aid effort to Libya” includes a field hospital.

“This is one of three Qatari military… cargo planes that are expected to arrive in Benghazi today,” stated Stratford.

“Medical equipment, medicine, food, and tents” are also included in the relief, according to Stratford. “Everything here will be taken to Derna as soon as possible.”

Furthermore, Al Jazeera’s Malik Traina reported from Tripoli that there has been an outpouring of solidarity from Libyans around the country.

“We haven’t seen this kind of unity in this country in many years,” Traina added.

He claimed that large government convoys carrying equipment from western Libya had arrived in the east. Volunteer convoys carrying aid are also making their way east.

“We’re also seeing volunteers and people giving whatever they can now – water, food, medicine, whatever supplies they can.”

Rescue efforts are complicated by profound political divisions in the seven-million-person country, which has lacked a strong central authority and has been at war on and off since a NATO-backed rebellion deposed Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

In the west, an internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) is located in Tripoli, but in the east, including Derna, a parallel administration operates.

Local authorities in eastern Libya, particularly those in Derna, have come under fire, with some claiming that residents were not notified that they needed to leave before the torrent of water swept through the city.

However, al-Ghaithi said on Wednesday that homeowners had been notified in advance of the inundation.

‘We took all precautions and alerted the… residents of the areas where the disaster may have occurred, we set up an emergency facility… the security forces did their job,” he stated.


Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Related Articles

Top Trending

cicely yasin bernhard
Cicely Yasin Bernhard: An American Actress, Singer, and Voice Artist
NFTs in Real Estate
How NFTs Are Being Used in Real Estate and Property Ownership?
benny blanco net worth
Benny Blanco Net Worth: A Closer Look at His Wealth and Assets
Switch to Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
Beginner’s Guide to Switching to Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
Best Non-Toxic Cleaners for Grease, Mold, and Grime
The Best Non-Toxic Cleaners for Grease, Mold, and Grime

LIFESTYLE

summer birthday party ideas
Creative Summer Birthday Party Ideas for Kids in 2025
May 6 Zodiac
May 6 Zodiac: Positive Traits, Compatibility and More about Taurus
self storage solutions for life transitions
How Self Storage Can Help During Major Life Changes (Divorce, Moving, etc.)?
why is my poinsettia dying
Why Is My Poinsettia Dying? Tips To Revive Your Wilting Poinsettia Plant
crypto retirement plan strategies
7 Ways Crypto Can Reshape Your Retirement Plan for the Future

Entertainment

cicely yasin bernhard
Cicely Yasin Bernhard: An American Actress, Singer, and Voice Artist
benny blanco net worth
Benny Blanco Net Worth: A Closer Look at His Wealth and Assets
Trump Tariff on Foreign Films
Trump’s 100% Movie Tariff Plan Shakes Hollywood in 2025
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Expecting Baby No
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky Expecting Baby No. 3, Confirmed at Met Gala
Lady gaga concert terror plot lgbtq targeted brazil
Foiled Terror Plot at Lady Gaga Concert Targeted LGBTQ+ Fans

GAMING

GTA 6 Release Date
GTA 6 Release Date Confirmed: Rockstar Sets May 2026 Launch
Common Mistakes New Streamers Should Avoid
10 Mistakes New Streamers Make (And How To Avoid Them)
Now.ggroblox
Play Roblox Online With Now.ggroblox Browser For An Ultimate Gaming Experience
Digital Ownership Lesson Gamers
The Digital Ownership Lesson Gamers Already Learned
h5firekirin
H5FireKirin Origins, Features, Gameplay Tips, and Rewards [Explained]

BUSINESS

How to Calculate Quarterly Tax Payments
How to Calculate Quarterly Tax Payments in 5 Easy Steps
credit suisse tax evasion
Credit Suisse Fined $511M for U.S. Offshore Tax Evasion Scheme
Trump Tariff on Foreign Films
Trump’s 100% Movie Tariff Plan Shakes Hollywood in 2025
executive finance education lbs cfo course
How London Business School’s CFO Course is Redefining Executive Finance Education?
keep wallet full beyond gift card limits
Keep Your Wallet Full When Gift Cards Fall Short

TECHNOLOGY

How Web3 Is Enabling Decentralized AI Networks
How Web3 Is Enabling Decentralized AI Networks
OpenAI Windsurf Acquisition
OpenAI Acquires Windsurf for $3B to Boost AI Coding Capabilities
How to Spot and Avoid Web3 Ponzi Schemes
How to Spot and Avoid Web3 Ponzi Schemes
Acer Predator Helios 500 17 AMD Laptop Review
Acer Predator Helios 500 17 AMD Laptop Review, Specs, Tests, and Prices
NFC Technology
What is NFC Technology?

HEALTH

Connection Between Hydration and Urinary Health
The Connection Between Hydration and Urinary Health
Neuralink Brain Implant Patient Regains Speech
Neuralink Brain Implant Helps ALS Patient Regain Speech with AI Support
Wegovy for Weight Loss
Wegovy for Weight Loss: Is It Worth Buying Online?
Role of Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing in IVF
The Role of Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing in IVF with ICSI Success
Online Yoga Certificate Course
Why an Online Yoga Certificate Course is the Key to Advancing Your Practice