Libya’s chief prosecutor has taken significant action by ordering the detention of eight officials as part of a comprehensive investigation into the catastrophic failure of two dams, resulting in a devastating flood that engulfed the city of Derna, claiming the lives of thousands.
This calamity unfolded on September 11, when the dams near the coastal city of Derna, situated in eastern Libya, gave way, triggered by a powerful Mediterranean storm.
Estimates from aid agencies place the death toll in a range between 4,000 and 11,000 lives lost in the wake of this tragic event.
Among those under scrutiny is former Derna Mayor Abdel-Moneim al-Ghaithi, who was relieved of his duties in the aftermath of the disaster.
The office of General Prosecutor al-Sidiq al-Sour reported that he was among those interrogated.
Additionally, officials affiliated with the Water Resources Authority and the Dams Management Authority have been ordered into custody while the investigation unfolds, as specified in the statement.
The focus of the inquiry centers on allegations of mismanagement, negligence, and errors that may have contributed to the disaster.
Prosecutors argue that the officials failed to provide substantial evidence to absolve them of charges.
The dams in question, constructed by a Yugoslavian company in the 1970s above the Wadi Derna river valley, were designed to safeguard the city against flash floods. In 2007, a Turkish firm was contracted for maintenance work on these two dams.
An alarming report from a state-run audit agency in 2021 exposed that despite allocating more than $2 million (€1.88 million) for maintenance purposes in 2012 and 2013, the dams had not been properly maintained, raising critical questions about the system’s integrity.
