Every day, the news brings us its share of more or less significant news. This time, the spotlight was on Libya, with the failure of two dams leading to deadly floods in the town of Derna.
The Libyan authorities have decided to take firm action by launching an investigation into this tragic incident. The attorney general thus ordered the pre-trial detention of eight Libyan officials, suspected of “mismanagement” and “negligence”. Among them is the mayor of Derna himself, who was removed from office following this disaster.
The floods, caused by storm Daniel, caused thousands of victims, with an estimated death toll of more than 3,800 and thousands missing. Faced with this tragedy, the local population demanded accountability from the authorities, deemed responsible for the disaster.
Therefore, a question arises: how could such a catastrophe occur? However, cracks in the dams had been reported as early as 1998, without the authorities taking the necessary measures. In addition, the investigation highlights a maintenance contract concluded with a Turkish company, which was allegedly violated, in particular by payments of disproportionate sums.
It is regrettable that the warnings of a Libyan engineer and academic, who warned of impending disaster if the dams were not maintained, went unheeded. Indeed, despite the country’s abundant oil resources, the means have not been implemented to prevent such a tragedy.
This case highlights the need for rigorous management of hydraulic infrastructures, but also the importance of the responsibility of the actors involved. The disastrous consequences of this negligence now impact the entire Libyan community, which must face the consequences of the floods and try to find the victims who are still missing.
In conclusion, this tragic story in Libya reminds us of the importance of good management of hydraulic infrastructures and the responsibility of the actors in place. Let us hope that this investigation leads to concrete results, in order to avoid future similar disasters in the country.