Audio By Carbonatix
Satellite images show the scale of destruction in the Libyan port of Derna after floodwaters swept away bridges, streets and communities - leaving thousands of people missing or dead.
Heavy rains brought by Storm Daniel at the weekend caused two dams to burst on the usually dry Wadi Derna riverbed running through the city. The torrents of water and debris left a trail of devastation.

A series of bridges had crossed the Wadi, connecting the port area with the western side of the city. The waters - which one official described as "like a tsunami" - swept away the bridges and whole blocks of buildings along the river including multi-storey residential blocks, government buildings and a large mosque.

In the nearby neighbourhood of Al-Eilwa, around 96% of properties were reported to have been flooded.
Many properties which stood near the river have disappeared, leaving only their foundations visible.

A major coastal road near the port has collapsed into the sea.


Derna's population was around 200,000 before the storm hit Libya.
The city's mayor said that given number of neighbourhoods completely destroyed, between 18,000 and 20,000 people may have died.
Thousands are also injured or missing, with many more left without anywhere to live.

Analysis by the UN shows more than 2,200 buildings were exposed to rushing floodwaters and at least six bridges were damaged as well as the port area. Each red dot in the picture above represents one structure hit by flooding.
Severely affected neighbourhoods such as Al-Bilad and Al-Maghar on either side of the river were also home to healthcare facilities used by people from across the city, according to disaster analysts Reach.
Homes built in the dry riverbed on the sea side of the dam bore the brunt of the flood as the dams burst.

Hamad Shalawi, a former local official and member of the disaster committee, said the city was destroyed in seconds with whole families killed as residential buildings disappeared.
"The geography of the city has completely changed as half of the city has been swept into the sea," he told BBC Arabic.
Community facilities, including buildings around Darnes Football Club's home ground, were also destroyed or covered in layers of mud and debris.
Latest Stories
-
Gov’t to roll out free special education for persons with disabilities from July 1 – Education Minister
24 seconds -
“We used it to test our officiating officials’ readiness” – Bawah Fuseini after CAA Athletics event
27 minutes -
Volleyball emerges as Ghana’s fastest rising sport
34 minutes -
National Sports Fund needs strong leadership from the top – Administrator David Wuaku
53 minutes -
JoySports Exclusive: Steve McLaren in talks with GFA after expressing interest in Black Stars job
59 minutes -
Fire guts auto parts warehouse at Bubuashie, one fire officer injured
1 hour -
I owe my victory to coach Ofori Asare – Allotey after winning WBA Africa Gold Super Flyweight belt
1 hour -
Church of Pentecost supports over 2,000 BECE candidates in Obuasi with career guidance seminar
3 hours -
Brandon Asante and Coventry all but promoted to Premier League despite Sheffield Wednesday draw
3 hours -
GPL 2025/26: Late Kwartemaa strike downs Hearts in Tema
3 hours -
Ghana Faces Sierra Leone Moment as Prosecutorial Powers come under strain
3 hours -
Don’t consume fish or seafood from Tema Shipyard until further notice – FDA warns
3 hours -
Why volunteering might be Africa’s most underrated career accelerator
4 hours -
ActionAid Ghana raises concern over gender gaps in Feed Ghana Programme
4 hours -
Windstorm wreaks havoc in Gushegu, displacing nearly 2,000 residents and damaging schools
4 hours