DERNA, Libya – Brigadier General Saddam Khalifa, head of the Libyan National Army Operations Room, is overseeing ongoing rescue and recovery efforts in the flood-devastated city of Derna, where powerful storms unleashed massive flooding earlier this week.
Gen. Khalifa is working closely with specialized Human Frogman Teams who are searching the shoreline for missing persons swept out to sea by the torrential floodwaters. He is said to be assessing the needs of rescue crews and ensuring they have the necessary capabilities and resources to conduct operations safely and efficiently.
The catastrophic flooding occurred Sunday night when heavy rains caused dry riverbeds to overflow and dams above the coastal Mediterranean city to burst. Entire neighborhoods were flattened as apartment buildings and homes collapsed, in many cases sweeping away sleeping families inside.
Local authorities estimate thousands have perished in the floods. Rescue workers have urgently appealed for more body bags as the recovery effort continues. Many Derna residents remain stranded, as roads throughout the city have been washed away by the rushing water. Basic necessities including water, electricity, and fuel are currently unavailable.
The full extent of the damage and loss of life may not be known for some time as search teams painstakingly comb through the wreckage. For now, crews are focused on locating missing people, recovering bodies, and providing aid to survivors.