Derna’s Tragic Transformation: From Coastal Paradise to Mourning City

A City in Mourning: Derna’s Struggle with the Sea

In a city once celebrated for its picturesque Mediterranean promenade, vibrant fishermen, and bustling seafood restaurants that overlooked the azure waves, the residents of Derna, Libya, now grapple with a profound fear of the sea. This dramatic shift in sentiment stemmed from a catastrophic event that occurred a year ago, when a powerful storm unleashed its fury, causing two aging dams in the mountains above the city to collapse. The aftermath left much of Derna buried under a thick layer of mud and debris, a haunting reminder of nature’s wrath.

The official death toll stands at approximately 4,000, yet countless others remain unaccounted for, according to both local residents and Libyan authorities. This agonizing statistic highlights the systemic dysfunction that many believe played a critical role in the disaster and hampered the emergency response efforts that followed.

“Fishing was my favorite hobby,” reflected Mostafa Saied, a 54-year-old resident whose life was irrevocably altered by the flood. “Now I avoid the sea and everything to do with it. I can’t shake the image of all the dead bodies beneath the waves. I picture them being consumed by fish, and it’s a thought that makes it impossible for me to eat seafood anymore.”

Tragically, the waters claimed the lives of his wife, their three daughters, and one of their two sons, all swept away from the rooftop where they had sought refuge. Mostafa was fortunate to survive, having been shielded in the building while rushing down a stairwell to assist a neighbor. Despite his survival, he has never recovered the bodies of his beloved family. His only hope now lies in the possibility that workers will discover something as they work to rehabilitate the devastated neighborhood.

Throughout central Derna, the sounds of construction fill the air, characterized by the rhythmic hammering and the hum of heavy machinery as workers clad in orange vests strive to rebuild the shattered city. The resilience of the people is palpable, yet the shadow of loss and the haunting memories of that fateful day linger on, an indelible mark on the spirit of this once-thriving coastal community.