Libya Flood: Derna valley was once a 'paradise.' Now there's nothing left but devastation
Tarek Fahim was taking videos of the water filling behind the dam in the Derna valley in Libya late Saturday night. Volunteers in hazmat suits scan the sea for dead bodies in Derna. Across the eastern Libyan city of Derna, thousands died and thousands more are still missing after a catastrophic flood hit the city in the early hours of Sunday. Almost all they find are dead bodies and more are believed to be under the heaps of crumbled cement. "This valley was a paradise full of pomegranate trees," one volunteer says as she waits for next drop off of bodies.
Source:Libya Today
September 17, 2023 08:35 UTC
Rivalries in divided Libya are set aside as country copes with flood disaster
TRIPOLI, Libya — Libya’s deadly floods have sparked a surge of solidarity and transcended political differences in a country wracked by division ever since the 2011 revolution that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi. Othman Abdeljalil, the health minister in the administration that runs eastern Libya, has put the provisional death toll at 3,166. But getting aid to those who need it most is made more complicated by the east-west political split in Libya. Across the country fundraising is under way, and volunteer aid workers have rushed to the disaster area. AdvertisementThe prosecutor general visited Derna on Friday and pledged that those responsible for the disaster would be held to account.
Source:Libya Today
September 17, 2023 05:36 UTC
Devastated Libya struggles with thousands of corpses after deadly flood
Residents and rescue workers in the devastated Libyan city of Derna are struggling to cope with the thousands of corpses washing up or decaying under rubble, after a flood that smashed down buildings and swept people to sea. Rescue teams search for dead bodies at a beach, in the aftermath of the floods in Derna, Libya September 16, 2023. Ibrahim al-Arabi, health minister in Libya's Tripoli-based western government, told Reuters he was certain groundwater was polluted with water mixed up with corpses, dead animals, refuse and chemical substances. The Norwegian Refugee Council, which has a team of 100 in Libya, said dead body management was the most pressing concern. The ICRC sent a cargo flight to Benghazi, eastern Libya's largest city, on Friday with 5,000 body bags.
Source:Libya Today
September 17, 2023 04:42 UTC
Recovery efforts continue amid staggering scope of death, destruction from Libya flooding
Recovery efforts continue amid staggering scope of death, destruction from Libya flooding The catastrophic flooding in the Libyan city of Derna earlier this week has killed at least 11,000 people, and the death toll is expected to rise. Many residents are returning to Derna, not to resume their lives, but identify the dead. Anna Foster reports from Libya.
Source:Libya Today
September 17, 2023 04:00 UTC
Libya floods: Death toll reaches 11,300 in Derna, drinking water woes pose additional threat
The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Libya's eastern city of Derna has climbed to 11,300, meanwhile, another 10,100 people are still missing in the devastated city, the United Nations informed on Saturday, citing the Libyan Red Crescent. Nearly a week after Storm Daniel hit northeastern Libya, "the humanitarian situation remains particularly grim in Derna," the update said. Severe drinking water problems have gripped the city, and at least 55 children were poisoned from drinking polluted water, it said. Two dams upstream from Derna burst a week ago under the pressure of torrential rains from the hurricane-strength Storm Daniel. International aid is arriving from the United Nations, Europe and the Middle East, offering some relief to the thousands of survivors.
Source:Libya Today
September 17, 2023 03:47 UTC
Libya: Aid groups urge authorities to stop burying flood victims in mass graves due to health risks
By Euronews with AFPThe WHO has urged authorities in Derna to stop burying flood victims in mass graves, highlighting the potential health risks if located near water and the distress it could cause families. Rescue teams in the coastal city of Derna are still searching for bodies almost a week after a devastating flood killed more than 11,000 people. ADVERTISEMENTThousands of residents were washed out to sea following the collapse of two dams after extreme rainfall last Sunday. As families bury their dead, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged authorities in Libya to stop burying flood victims in mass graves, highlighting the spread of waterborne diseases. His comments follow the announcement Friday that Libya is launching a probe into the collapse of the two dams.
Source:Libya Today
September 17, 2023 03:15 UTC
Turkey may part ways with European Union if necessary: Erdogan
Turkey may part ways with European Union if necessary: ErdoganPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkey may "part ways with the EU," suggesting that his country may end the bid to join the European blocBy IANS Published Date - 08:30 AM, Sun - 17 September 23Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkey may “part ways with the EU,” suggesting that his country may end the bid to join the European bloc. “The European Union is trying to break away from Turkey,” Erdogan told journalists on Saturday in Istanbul before leaving for New York to attend the annual UN General Assembly meetings. “After these evaluations, we may part ways with the EU if necessary,” Erdogan warned. Regarding Sweden’s application to join NATO, Erdogan said that he would align with the decision made by the Turkish Parliament. Also Read Emergency operations launched to rescue cave researcher trapped 3,000 ft underground in Turkey
Source:Libya Today
September 17, 2023 03:07 UTC
Aid arrives in flood-hit Libya, but hopes fade for survivors
DERNA: Shipments of international aid arrived in Libya, mainly from the United Arab Emirates and Iran, on Saturday, offering a lifeline to thousands despite dwindling hopes of finding more survivors days after deadly flash floods. The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced 29 tonnes of aid had arrived in the eastern city of Benghazi. The North African country is currently ruled by two rival administrations that have battled for power since a Nato-backed uprising toppled and killed Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The WHO claimed that the “bodies of 3,958 people have been recovered and identified”, with 9,000 more still missing. The prosecutor vowed to deal firmly with those responsible for poor condition of the two dams, which had been built “to protect Derna from floods”.
Source:Libya Today
September 17, 2023 02:32 UTC
Libya floods death toll rises to 11,300 in Derna, UN says
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, CanadaZip Code
Source:Libya Today
September 17, 2023 01:46 UTC
Libya's search for missing intensifies as death toll continues to rise
The search continues after heavy rains from Mediterranean Storm Daniel caused catastrophic flooding across eastern Libya. In Libya’s coastal city of Derna, which is prone to flooding, entire neighborhoods were washed away. According to the Libyan Red Crescent, the death toll has surpassed 11,000 as search and rescue teams from around the world look for bodies and possible survivors. SEE MORE: A visual investigation into why thousands died in Libya floodingLibya’s chief prosecutor has ordered an investigation into the collapse of the two dams. Haider al-Saeih, head of Libya's disease combat center, reported 150 cases of diarrhea in Derna due to contaminated water and urged the use of bottled water.
Source:Libya Today
September 16, 2023 22:54 UTC
About 5,000 homes damaged by floods in E Libya
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, CanadaZip Code
Source:Libya Today
September 16, 2023 22:00 UTC
An aid worker on the ground in Libya reflects on the devastating flooding
An aid worker on the ground in Libya reflects on the devastating floodingSCOTT SIMON, HOST:It has been a horrible week in the northeast of Libya. BASHIR BEN AMER: Thank you. The city, the whole city, the city center that was on the coastal area that was - unfortunately doesn't exist anymore today. We're speaking about a city that's - its infrastructure is completely destructed - water, electricity, telecommunication, schools. So, yes, you can imagine how horrible is it and overwhelming as well for the rescue teams, for the aid teams and for everyone.
Source:Libya Today
September 16, 2023 21:55 UTC
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/5Y757XC55ETQNVYHQHAXK73Q3E.jpg)
Derna survivor voices hope for Libya's future amid flood chaos
Mr Hassan said he was awakened by the screams of people at around 3.30am local time on Monday. He woke his son sleeping nearby in their apartment, less than 100 metres from Derna's shoreline and quickly went up to the roof. We hope to find survivors, but our main mission is to help the Libyans find and recover their bodies. Another volunteer, Hassan Humaid, also arrived from Tripoli and said Libyans were grateful for the help from their Arab brothers. “Libyans, especially from Derna, had experienced so much for so many decades but they’re a resilient people.
Source:Libya Today
September 16, 2023 20:36 UTC
Search teams bury flood victims in Libya, public prosecutor vows criminal cases over dam disaster
Help Our CommunityPlease help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Take The Survey
Source:Libya Today
September 16, 2023 20:34 UTC
Libya investigates dams’ collapse after a devastating flood last weekend killed more than 11,000
Heavy rains caused by Mediterranean storm Daniel caused deadly flooding across eastern Libya last weekend. “It was a big number … the sea is still ejecting lots of dead bodies unfortunately,” she told The Associated Press. Since 2014, eastern Libya has been under the control of Gen. Khalifa Hifter and his self-styled Libyan National Army. But there was no warning about the dams, which collapsed early Monday as most residents were asleep in their homes. A Turkish firm was contracted in 2007 to carry out maintainence on the two dams and build another dam in between.
Source:Libya Today
September 16, 2023 19:52 UTC