A Libyan court sentenced twelve individuals on Sunday for their involvement in the catastrophic floods that struck Libya in 2023. The proceedings, held in the Derna Criminal Court, addressed the collapse of the Abu Mansur Dam and Al Bilad Dam, resulting in deaths numbering in the thousands.
Out of the sixteen officials accused of mismanagement and negligence, twelve were convicted and given prison sentences ranging from nine to twenty-six years. The other four defendants were acquitted of all charges and ordered to return any money obtained illegally. The Attorney General’s office disclosed these details in a statement following the verdict.
The deadly event occurred in early September 2023 when heavy rainfall from Storm Daniel led to the collapse of the two dams. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the floods resulted in at least 4,000 deaths and the displacement of 25,000 individuals, with many still missing. Notably, the floodwaters damaged around one-third of the housing in the city of Derna, according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The dams were originally constructed to shield Derna from flash floods. However, according to a 2021 state audit, they had not been adequately maintained or repaired despite available funding. There are now discussions about whether the case will proceed to a higher court for an appeal, which could alter the sentences.
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