Watan – As rescue and relief operations continue in Libya following the devastating floods, media outlets have highlighted a shocking revelation regarding the Derna catastrophe. The revelation comes from a Libyan scientist and academic, Ahmed El-Tantawi, who had forewarned about the impending disaster even before the onset of Hurricane Daniel, which caused widespread destruction in North Africa.
Derna, often referred to as the epicenter of disasters in North Africa for decades, witnessed more than a quarter of its city submerged, with many buildings collapsing. The ongoing rescue operations are still uncovering bodies, with officials estimating the death toll to reach around 40,000. The city’s deteriorating infrastructure is believed to have exacerbated the disaster.
The surprise revelation stems from a study conducted by El-Tantawi in 2022, in which he warned of the looming catastrophe. In his research, he highlighted the recurring flood threats to the dams in the Derna valley, which is typically a dry riverbed. He urgently called for maintenance work on these dams.
The study, published by Omar Al-Mukhtar University in Libya, was recently spotlighted by the Libyan news agency “Lana” and monitored by “Watan” El-Tantawi’s research indicated that if a massive flood were to occur, the consequences would be catastrophic for the valley’s residents and the entire city, especially if the Abu Mansour and Derna valley dams were to collapse.
The study urged immediate action to maintain the existing dams and called for raising awareness among the local population about the dangers of floods. It also emphasized the need to take measures to ensure their safety and find ways to increase vegetation cover to prevent soil erosion.
Despite El-Tantawi’s clear warnings, the floods caused by Hurricane Daniel led to the submersion of entire neighborhoods in Derna, especially after the collapse of the Abu Mansour and Derna valley dams.
Thousands of Derna residents remain missing, and the waves continue to wash ashore bodies, increasing the death toll from Hurricane Daniel.