When two dams gave way and unleashed a deluge of stormwater through the streets of Derna, a city in Libya, chaos ensued. The torrents swept away not just buildings but also lives. Among those caught in this harrowing ordeal was Ruba Hatem Yassine, a 24-year-old woman, her pregnant sister, and a group of elderly relatives. Their only lifeline was a neighbor’s ladder that led to the roof, away from the ferocious floodwaters below.
Ms. Yassine recounted their desperate escape on a phone call from her friend’s home in the nearby town of Marj, just two days after the catastrophic events unfolded. Faced with the relentless onslaught of water, they embarked on a perilous journey, hopping from one rooftop to another along their narrow street. The city had transformed into a nightmarish, waterlogged landscape.
The hours passed agonizingly slowly as they huddled in a small storage unit atop one of the buildings, watching helplessly as the floodwaters submerged their beloved city. The cries of their trapped neighbors, stuck in half-destroyed homes or buried under debris, echoed through the chaos. “Save us, save us,” they screamed, their voices carrying the weight of desperation.
It was a scene of unimaginable terror, a calamity of epic proportions. As they clung to their precarious refuge, Ms. Yassine’s family of nine could do nothing but bear witness to the unfolding tragedy. They watched as their community was engulfed by the unforgiving waters.
Eventually, as the floodwaters somewhat subsided, a glimmer of hope emerged. Other survivors, who had also endured the relentless fury of the storm, came to their aid. Together, they devised a plan to safely descend from their rooftop sanctuary.
Carefully, they ventured into the knee-deep water that now inundated the streets, leaving behind everything they had ever known. Their homes, possessions, and memories were all swallowed by the merciless flood. The very essence of their lives had been irrevocably altered.
But in the face of this catastrophe, the resilience of the human spirit shone brightly. Strangers became saviors, offering a helping hand in a time of dire need. It was a testament to the strength and solidarity of a community facing the unimaginable.
As Ms. Yassine and her family made their way through the murky waters, they carried with them the weight of their experiences. Their escape was a triumph of human determination over nature’s wrath. While the scars of that fateful day would remain, they had emerged from the darkness, driven by hope and the unwavering support of those who had come to their rescue.
In the aftermath of the disaster, Derna was left in ruins, a city forever changed by the cataclysmic event. Yet, amid the devastation, the indomitable spirit of its people endured. They would rebuild, they would heal, and they would remember the strangers who became saviors in their darkest hour.
