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Modelling and Validation of the Derna Dam Break Event

Published on 11 December 2024
This paper presents an analysis of the dam break, including the modelling of flow discharge and the resulting flooding of Derna.
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Modelling and Validation of the Derna Dam Break Event

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Author details
Annunziato, Alessandro; Santini, Marzia; Proietti, Chiara; de Girolamo, Ludovica; Lorini, Valerio; Gerhardinger, Andrea; Tucci, Michele.
Unique identifier
https://doi.org/10.3390/geohazards5020026

The catastrophic failure of two dams in Libya on 10 and 11 September 2023 resulted in the devastating flooding of the city of Derna, which is located downstream of the dams, causing more than 6000 fatalities and displacing thousands of residents. The failure was attributed to heavy rainfall from Storm Daniel, leading to the dams reaching full capacity and subsequently overflowing and failing.

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Hazard types

Flood

DRM Phases

Recovery Response

Sectors

Situational awareness

Risk drivers

Climate change Environmental degradation