Deathly Dam Collapses Lead to Shocking Sentences for Libyan Officials
The disastrous dam collapses that killed more than 4,000 people in September have resulted in twelve Libyan officials being sentenced to prison terms varying from nine to twenty-seven years. Whole neighborhoods were washed away in Derna, and poorly conducted evacuation efforts worsened the calamity.
Accountability and Duties
Managing water resources and keeping the dams in good repair were the responsibilities of the authorities found guilty. According to Reuters, they were facing accusations of wasteful spending, deliberate murder, and carelessness. According to the public prosecutor’s office, three of the offenders were also ordered to reimburse money that was earned through criminal means. All allegations against four additional officials were dropped during their trials.
The Results of the Global Study
Poor maintenance and governance during Libya’s nearly decade-long conflict contributed to the dam breaches, according to an international investigation published in January. The infrastructure and control that were vital in preventing this kind of catastrophe were greatly undermined by the protracted instability in the area.
Reaction and Outrage from the Public
Public anger was at an all-time high following the tragedy. Residents of Derna demanded responsibility from the mayor a week after the disaster by setting fire to his house. Subsequently, the whole city council was removed. Reportedly, survivors told BBC Arabic that the evacuation instructions were botched, leading to the wrong areas of Derna being targeted and inadequate sheltering facilities for the evacuees. Curfews and conflicting stay-at-home orders only made things worse.
Some evacuees were transferred off the shore to more hazardous regions that eventually experienced flooding, according to locals, who were frightened of rising water levels. The torrents wiped out a number of settlements and central bridges along the riverbed.
The Impact of Storm Daniel
Storm Daniel caused the catastrophic floods by showering the northeast coast of Libya with an unprecedented 400 mm of rain in just one hour. Throughout the entire month of September, this region usually gets about 1.5mm of rainfall, according to BBC Verify. There was a fresh record-breaking downpour, according to Libya’s National Meteorological Centre.
The Political Setting
Power conflicts and split administrations have plagued Libya since the toppling of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi. There are two competing governments in Libya at the moment: one in Tripoli, which is recognized by the United Nations, and another in the east, which warlord General Khalifa Haftar supports. This political discord has severely impacted government efficiency and catastrophe preparedness.
The harshness of these officials’ sentences reflects the gravity of their carelessness and the catastrophic results of the systemic problems in overseeing Libya’s vital infrastructure. Sadly, tragedies like the one in Derna highlight the critical importance of strong governance and regular infrastructure maintenance in protecting communities from avoidable catastrophes.
Authorities in Libya have been arrested in connection with the devastating floods.
