"Libya's Dam Collapse Triggers Devastating Floods and Rising Death Toll"

The collapse of two overwhelmed dams during catastrophic floods in Libya has prompted an investigation into whether better maintenance could have prevented the disaster. Decades-old studies revealed cracks and subsidence in the dams, which had received $8 million for maintenance that was halted during the Arab Spring uprising. At least 11,300 people have died and another 10,100 are reported missing in the wake of the destructive floods, with the death toll in the city of Derna potentially reaching 20,000. The head of the United Nation's World Meteorological Organization stated that most casualties could have been avoided with a functioning meteorological service in the country.