Eastern Libya’s weak infrastructure and low-lying areas made it especially vulnerable to disaster as heavy rainfall caused severe flooding. This has resulted in thousands of people missing or feared dead in the war-torn country in recent days.
The combination of extreme weather, vulnerable geography, and weak dams and roads have made this deluge the worst North Africa has seen in almost 100 years.
Libya’s National Center of Meteorology reported a record-breaking 24-hour rainfall of 414.1 millimeters (over 16 inches) in Bayda from Sunday to Monday. Most of the rain fell in just six hours, making heavy rainfall events more common due to climate change.
Derna, a port city in eastern Libya, was hit the hardest by the floods. Its low-lying location and dry soil made it more susceptible to flooding. The city is controlled by Gen. Khalifa Hifter, head of the Libyan National Army.
The flooding was caused by Storm Daniel, which transitioned into a “medicane” (Mediterranean hurricane) and drew energy from warm waters. The storm’s intensity decreased as it moved into northern Egypt, causing a dust storm.
Dams and infrastructure in Derna were not properly equipped to handle the heavy rainfall, resulting in devastating damage. Aid convoys face logistical challenges due to the destroyed road infrastructure.
Derna experienced neglect in terms of infrastructure maintenance for over a decade. This can be seen in the deteriorating roads, bridges, dams, and electrical grids throughout the country.
The collapse of dams in Derna was worsened by the city’s location at the bottom of steep mountains. This, combined with inadequate communication about the dangers, contributed to the severity of the floods.
The flooding in Libya is unusual for the region, and the last time North Africa experienced floods of this magnitude was in 1927 in Algeria. Infrastructure, including roads and bridges, is not built to withstand such disasters.
Derna, in particular, has not fully recovered from the battle between 2018 and 2019, which left infrastructure in disrepair. The lack of a robust early-warning system further hindered efforts to prevent casualties.
Jason Samenow contributed to this report.
