Libya to probe inadequate dam oversight following floods

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Sep 2023 11:42

Libyan authorities will look into why certain foreign firms failed to oversee the state of dams in the eastern region.

Derna, Libya, has been devastated by flooding from storms this week, which washed swaths of the city into the sea. (AP)

The justice minister of the parliament-appointed government in Sirt, Khaled Masoud al-Mudir, has stated that Libyan authorities will launch an inquiry and take legal action against individuals responsible for the dam failures in Derna during heavy rainfall, should their negligence be established as the cause, as reported by Sputnik.

"If it is proven that those responsible for the condition of these dams, through an error or negligence, did not inspect or repair them, they will be criminally liable, whether they are leaders of the Derna municipality or persons from the previous government. The Prosecutor's Office will carry out all legal procedures and take it upon itself to find out whether there was a mistake or negligence in order to take measures against the recurrence of such incidents," the minister said.

He added that Libyan authorities will also look into why certain foreign firms failed to oversee the state of dams in the eastern region, despite having maintenance agreements in place dating back to 1999, 2007, and 2008.

Libya experienced heavy rainfall on September 10 due to Storm Daniel, resulting in devastating floods in the eastern part of the country. The cities of Susah and Derna were officially declared as natural disaster areas.

As of Thursday, the reported casualties from the flooding exceeded 11,000, and approximately 20,000 individuals remain unaccounted for, according to information from the Libyan Red Crescent, as reported by Al Arabiya broadcaster.

On Wednesday, the mayor of Derna, Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi, expressed concern that the death toll in the city alone could potentially range from 18,000 to 20,000 due to the flooding.