As the death toll is expected to rise in Libya's disastrous floods, Derna has been hit harder than any other city. Here's how crumbling infrastructure and a decade of political chaos left the region reeling.
Derna Mayor Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi estimated that the number of deaths in Derna could be as high as 20,000 based on the number of districts destroyed by the flood., minister of civil aviation in the administration that controls the east of Libya, Hichem Abu Chkiouat, said.Derna is bisected by Wadi Derna, a seasonal river that runs south from the highlands and into the ocean through the city.
Residents, many of whom were asleep at the time, say the only indication of danger was a loud bang, with no warning system or evacuation plan in place.The riverbed is normally dry at this time of the year. "If a huge flood happens the result will be catastrophic for the people of the wadi and the city," the paper said.He cited five floods since 1942, and called for immediate steps to ensure regular maintenance of the dams.Divided country
Since 2014, Libya has been split into two rivalling administrations in the east and west of the country.
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