Libya is reeling from yet another flood disaster, as torrential rains engulfed western cities such as Tarhuna and Gharyan, leaving a trail of destruction and loss.
The floods, which began late last week, claimed the lives of several people, including two young men whose vehicle was swept away in Wadi Al-Lafaiah, and emergency responders who were caught in the deluge while attempting to assist.
The disaster has also displaced families, submerged roads, and inundated homes and businesses, highlighting the nation’s ongoing struggle with natural disasters and inadequate government response.
The current crisis evokes haunting parallels to the catastrophic floods in Derna last year, where the collapse of two dams led to thousands of deaths. Despite the scale of that tragedy, Libya’s government appears to have learned little from it.
In Tarhuna, blocked waterways and unregulated construction turned heavy rainfall into an unmanageable crisis. Residents faced the brunt of the disaster with minimal emergency infrastructure and weak coordination among government agencies.
Efforts to control the situation have been hampered by a lack of resources. Othman Al-Mliqta, head of the National Safety Authority, revealed that Tarhuna possesses just one working excavator, severely limiting rescue and recovery operations.
He also pointed to the poor state of Tarhuna’s hospital, built in the late 1970s on flood-prone land at the confluence of two valleys, calling it ill-equipped to handle the aftermath of the disaster. Many government entities lack essential equipment, including off-road vehicles, to access affected areas.
Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba has announced the creation of a Development and Reconstruction Authority for Tarhuna, with an initial budget of 100 million Libyan dinars.
He also promised immediate aid to families impacted by the floods. However, such announcements have done little to reassure citizens, who remain skeptical after years of unfulfilled promises and weak government performance during previous crises.
This latest disaster underscores Libya’s vulnerability to natural events and the government’s inability to address them effectively.
Decades of neglect, poor urban planning, and a lack of investment in sustainable infrastructure have turned heavy rainfall into a recurring national emergency. With climate change driving more extreme weather events, Libya’s continued reliance on reactive measures instead of preventive strategies has left its citizens at greater risk.
As the water recedes, Libya faces a familiar crossroads. Will this disaster spur meaningful reform in disaster preparedness and infrastructure development, or will it become yet another tragic example of governmental inaction?
