Libya Floods Kill More Than 11,000; 20-Year Disaster Statistics

The death toll from the floods in Derna, Libya, surged to 11,300 as of Friday, September 15, 2023. The disaster, caused by the collapse of two dams during heavy rains, initially claimed 5,500 lives in the city and 170 elsewhere.

According to *Al-Jazeera*, Marie el-Drese, Secretary-General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Libya, stated that another 10,100 people are still reported missing.

The search continues. Derna's Mayor, Abdel-Moneim al-Ghaithi, even predicted that the death toll could rise to 20,000, given the vast areas swept away by the severe floods.

The floods engulfed residential areas in Derna on Sunday night, September 10, 2023. A resident testified that the water rose to the surface incredibly quickly, within seconds. He and his mother were swept away late at night before managing to take refuge in an empty building.

Flooding is a recurring annual disaster. Data compiled by Statista shows that over the past 20 years, flooding incidents have exceeded 100 per year. This is considered high, as between 1990 and 2000, recorded flood events never surpassed 100.

Over the two decades, the most significant flooding occurred in 2006, with 226 incidents—the year with the highest number of flood tragedies. The highest number of flood events also occurred in 2021, reaching 222 incidents. The latest data from 2022 shows 176 flood events.

The lowest number of flood events occurred in 2004, 2017, and 2018, with an equal number of 127 incidents each.

The flood events compiled by Statista refer to incidents resulting in at least 10 deaths, 100 people affected, leading to a declared state of emergency and/or requiring international aid.

(See also: [Natural Disasters Related to Climate Change are Increasing Globally])