Today marks the second anniversary of Hurricane Daniel, which devastated the city of Derna, destroying lives and livelihoods. The catastrophe was caused by the collapse of the Al-Bilad and Sidi Bu Mansour dams, which released a torrent of water from Derna valley.
Loss
After the initial shock, official agencies released the first casualty statistics. According to Kamal al-Siwi, head of the General Authority for Search and Identification of Missing Persons, 3,297 people were registered as missing. Al-Siwi explained that the authority collected and analyzed 3,078 DNA samples to create a genetic database of the victims. He confirmed that some missing persons have been identified, and their names have been submitted to the Attorney General’s office. The authority also had to exhume randomly buried bodies after the disaster to ensure proper identification.
The initial local estimates suggested that 8% of Derna’s population was killed or went missing, and a quarter of its neighborhoods were wiped off the map. The city had an estimated population of 200,000. According to the World Health Organization, the final recorded death toll was 4,540, including 3,964 Libyan citizens and 576 foreign nationals.
A team from the Government of National Unity was tasked with assessing the damage. Their preliminary report indicated that approximately 1,500 buildings were damaged out of a total of 6,142 in the city. The damage included 891 destroyed buildings, 211 partially damaged ones, and 398 buildings submerged in mud. The total area affected by the floods was estimated at 6 square kilometers.
Solidarity and Accountability
The disaster led to an unparalleled wave of local solidarity, with volunteers from various cities rushing to help Derna’s residents. Aid was also provided by political, local, and civil society groups, in addition to international support. While many countries offered assistance, the disaster also prompted an investigation into the cause, leading to the prosecution of those responsible. The Public Prosecution confirmed that “negligence” was the reason for the dams’ collapse and announced the detention of 16 officials, including the former mayor of Derna.
Internationally, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the Derna dams collapsed “after years of war and neglect,” adding that the city represents a “sad image of the world, where a flood of inequality and injustice prevails.” At the time, the UN envoy to Libya, Abdullah Batili, stressed the urgent need to unify Libyan institutions to effectively respond to the country’s challenges, acknowledging that the Derna disaster exceeded Libya’s capacity to manage it.
Archaeological Discoveries
Amid the devastation, the floodwaters revealed new archaeological sites. Ahmed Issa, an official from the Libyan Heritage Management and Protection in Shahat, said that the floods exposed many ancient structures that require further study. The most notable discoveries are large drainage channels carved into rock and new architectural foundations in the Wadi Balghadir and between the cities of Soussa and Shahat. Classical wall foundations also appeared in Derna itself.
The Derna disaster was a devastating event that will take years for the city and the country to recover from. However, it also revealed the true essence of the Libyan people, who came together during adversity, transcending their differences. The tragedy also provided an unexpected opportunity to uncover new archaeological sites and rebuild the city in a modern and contemporary style
