Overall Red alert Flood
in Libya

Event summary

This flood can have a high humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID FL 1102204
Glide number: FL-2023-000170-LBY
Death: 5300
Displaced: 33000
Countries: Libya
From - To 08 Sep - 14 Sep

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Flood in Libya - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationTue, 12 Sep 2023 14:32

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
Libya - Floods, update (ECHO 13 Sep 2023)Wed, 13 Sep 2023 11:42

  • Torrential rainfall and strong winds hit north-eastern Libya, particularly the Cyrenaica Region over the past few days, causing floods and flash floods that resulted in an increasing number of casualties and damage. 
  • According to UN OCHA, at least 5,000 people died, 10,000 others are still missing and 20,000 have been displaced. The worst-affected city is Derna where the death toll reached 2,300 people after floods triggered by two dams collapse, as reported by media.
  • Local authorities have launched search-and-rescue operations, while authorities and national organizations have sent medical teams and aid convoys to the affected area. The UN in Libya has deployed emergency response staff and has mobilized assistance to people affected by the floods.
  • For the next 24 hours, drier conditions are forecast across the whole of Libya. 
  • The EU Civil Protection Mechanism, UCPM was activated following the request for international assistance by the Permanent Mission of the State of Libya to the United Nations office in Geneva. So far, three Member States, Germany, Romania and Finland offered substantial assistance in a form of shelter and food items, generators as well as hospital tents and water tanks via the Mechanism. 
  • EUR 500 000 in humanitarian aid funding was also mobilised to provide immediate lifesaving support to affected people in the area of Derna and other affected areas.
Flood in Libya - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationWed, 13 Sep 2023 15:48

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
Libya - Floods, update (ECHO 14 Sep 2023)Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:55

  • The humanitarian impact continues to increase following the flood and flash flood events that hit north-eastern Libya, particularly the Derna City area.
  • According to UN OCHA and local media, at least 5,300 people died, 10,000 others are missing in Derna City after floods triggered by the collapse of two dams. The International Organisation for Migration, IOM reports at least 30,000 displaced people in Derna and 3,000 others in Albayda. These figures are likely to change, as assessments progress.
  • For the next 24 hours, no rain is expected across the whole of Libya.
  • Following the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on 12 September, 6 EU Member States (DE, FI, FR,IT, NL, RO) have offered assistance consisting of an emergency medical team, search and rescue teams and equipment, heavy machinery, technical expertise and in-kind assistance (shelter, food and non-food items, power generators).
  • In addition, EUR 500 000 in humanitarian aid funding was also mobilised to provide immediate lifesaving support to affected people in the area of Derna and other affected areas.
Flood in Libya - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationThu, 14 Sep 2023 10:57

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
Libya - Floods, update (ECHO 15 Sep 2023)Fri, 15 Sep 2023 10:25

  • Following the flood and flash flood events that hit north-eastern Libya, according to WHO sources as of 14 September, over 5,000 are presumed dead, with a total of 3,922 deaths having been registered in hospitals. Over 10,000 people are still missing, so the numbers are likely an underestimation given the limited data available.
  • Humanitarian partners are requesting  USD 71.4 million to respond to the most urgent needs of 250,000 people targeted out of the 884,000 people estimated to be in need, over the next three months.
  • Following the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on 12 September, 7 EU Member States (DE, FI, FR, IT, NL, RO, BE) have offered assistance consisting of an emergency medical team, search and rescue teams and equipment, heavy machinery, technical expertise and in-kind assistance (shelter, food and non-food items, power generators).
  • In addition to EUR 500 000 released earlier this week to respond to urgent wash and health needs, DG ECHO has mobilised another EUR 5,2 million to address needs resulting from the floods, bringing the total funding to 5,7 million.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated in rapid mapping mode on 12 September and 6 maps have been produced so far.
Flood in Libya - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationFri, 15 Sep 2023 16:08

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
Flood in Libya - EC/ECHO daily mapFri, 15 Sep 2023 19:21

A new EC/ECHO daily map is now available
Libya - Floods, update (ECHO 18 Sep 2023)Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:45

  • According to UN OCHA and the International Organisation for Migration over 5,000 people have reportedly died, while more than 10,000 others remain missing and more than 33,000 are displaced following the devastating floods. These numbers are subject to further adjustment as assessments continue.
  • Five members of a Greek rescue team en route to the flood-ravaged city of Derna from Benghazi were killed in a road accident on 17 September.
  • Following the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on 12 September, 8 EU Member States (DE, FI, FR, IT, NL, RO, BE, AT) have offered assistance consisting of an emergency medical team, search and rescue teams and equipment, heavy machinery, technical expertise and in-kind assistance (shelter, food and non-food items, power generators). In addition,  a total funding of 5,7 million was mobilised to respond to urgent needs.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated in rapid mapping mode on 12 September and seven maps have been produced so far.
  • Over the next 24 hours drier conditions are expected over the whole Libya.
Flood in Libya - EC/ECHO daily mapMon, 18 Sep 2023 18:20

A new EC/ECHO daily map is now available
Libya - Floods, update (ECHO 19 Sep 2023)Tue, 19 Sep 2023 10:59

  • Since 18 September, citizens have taken to the streets in the flood-struck city of Derna demanding authorities for accountability for the collapse of the dams that led to the devastating flash floods.
  • According to media, as of 18 September, more than 5,300 people died, while more than 10,000 are still missing and nearly 40,000 people have been displaced. Moreover, according to UN OCHA, at least 844,000 need humanitarian assistance, of whom 300,000 are children and 24,000 are pregnant women. These numbers are subject to further adjustment as assessments continue.
  • Following the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on 12 September, 9 EU Member States (DE, FI, FR, IT, NL, RO, BE, AT, SE) have offered assistance consisting of an emergency medical team, search and rescue teams and equipment, heavy machinery, technical expertise, experts and in-kind assistance (shelter, food and non-food items, power generators).
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMSR696) was activated in rapid mapping mode on 12 September and seven maps have been produced so far.
  • Over the next 24 hours, drier conditions are expected over Libya.
Flood in Libya - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationTue, 19 Sep 2023 15:56

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
 Libya - Floods, update (ECHO 20 Sep 2023)Wed, 20 Sep 2023 10:40

  • Ten days following Storm Daniel almost 4,000 (3,958) deaths are recorded according to WHO, while approximately 10,000 others remain missing in Derna City following the floods caused by the collapse of two dams.
  • The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reports at least 30,000 people displaced in Derna and an additional 3,000 in Albayda with about 40,000 people displaced across north-eastern region of Libya. These numbers are subject to further adjustment as access is challenging, information is fragmented and assessments continue.
  • The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated on 12 September and  so far 10 EU Member States offered assistance (BG, DE, FI, FR, IT, NL, RO, BE, AT, SE), consisting of an emergency medical team, search and rescue teams and equipment, heavy machinery, technical expertise, experts and in-kind assistance (shelter, food and non-food items, power generators).
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated and eight maps have been produced.
  • Over the next 72 hours, drier conditions are still forecast over the whole country.
Flood in Libya - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationWed, 20 Sep 2023 13:20

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
Libya - Floods, update (ECHO 21 Sep 2023)Thu, 21 Sep 2023 11:04

  • Following the floods in north-eastern Libya, an accurate assessment of the actual number of fatalities and scale of the damage remains challenging across the affected areas. 
    Urgent needs of displaced people – according to the International Organisation for Migration, IOM is estimated to be around 43, 000 individuals - include flood, drinking water, mental health and psychosocial support.  
  • According to UNOSAT, the flooded area caused by the collapse of two dams in Derna City is approximately 500 ha, with almost 2,217 buildings that have been affected, among them 5 destroyed bridges, 284 educational and 128 health facilities.
  • The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated on 12 September, so far 10 EU Member States offered assistance (AT, BE, BG, DE, FI, FR, IT, NL, RO, SK).
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated and eight maps have been produced.
Flood in Libya - EC/ECHO daily mapThu, 21 Sep 2023 17:49

A new EC/ECHO daily map is now available
 Libya - Floods, update (ECHO 22 Sep 2023)Fri, 22 Sep 2023 09:51

  • According to UNHCR and UN OCHA, as of 21 September, the death toll reached more than 4,000 people, over 9,000 people remain currently still missing (in Derna) and 43,059 displaced (of which 24,500 in Derna, 3,000 in Al Bayda, 2,780 in Benghazi and 1,500 in Al Marj). In addition, IOM DTM reports over 900 relocated families from the affected area in eastern Libya and Derna toward western Libya, including in the Capital Tripoli. The reported figures are likely to increase as emergency interventions are ongoing.
  • Over the next 48 hours, drier conditions are still forecast over the whole country.
  • The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated on 12 September, so far various Member States delivered Search and Rescue Teams, Emergency Medical Teams, shelter and medical items, water tanks, generators and other items.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated and eight maps have been produced.
Flood in Libya - EC/ECHO daily mapMon, 25 Sep 2023 17:57

A new EC/ECHO daily map is now available
Flood in Libya - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationWed, 27 Sep 2023 15:17

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
Flood in Libya - Copernicus EMS activationThu, 14 Sep 2023 01:36

[EMSR696] Flood in Libya
Flood in Libya - Copernicus EMS activationWed, 13 Sep 2023 22:40

[EMSR696] Flood in Libya
Flood in Libya - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationWed, 11 Oct 2023 14:19

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
Libya, mid-SeptemberAccording to local media, 5,300 people died and 10,000 others are missing in Derna City after floods triggered by the collapse of two dams. In addition, IOM.DTM reports at least 30,000 displaced people in Derna and 3,000 others in Albayda.Tue 12 Sep 2023DG ECHO Daily Flash (ERCC Portal)
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

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For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (36), (2), NASA (4), INFORM (2),