More than 5,000 people were killed in Libya after torrential rain caused two dams to burst near the coastal city of Derna, destroying much of the city and carrying entire neighborhoods into the sea, local authorities said. Floodwaters also swept through other eastern settlements, including Shahhat, Al-Bayda and Marj. At least 20,000 people were displaced.
The North African nation, which has been splintered by a war, was ill-prepared for Storm Daniel to batter its coastline. The country is administered by two rival governments, complicating rescue and aid efforts, and despite its vast oil resources, its infrastructure has been poorly maintained after more than a decade of political chaos.
Context: The flooding underscored how climate change can combine with political conflict and economic failure to magnify the scale of disasters.
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