World Biz
Libya’s Struggle Amidst Floods and Devastation
Derna, a devastated city in eastern Libya, is grappling with a rising death toll caused by the floodwaters unleashed by Storm Daniel. The catastrophe unfolded as two dams burst on Sunday afternoon, following the storm’s impact, resulting in a destructive surge of water that inundated the city, causing the collapse of buildings and the tragic loss of lives.
As of late Tuesday, the initial death toll reported by authorities in the politically fragmented North African nation stood at a grim figure of at least 2,300 fatalities. Emergency services revealed that over 5,000 people were missing, and approximately 7,000 sustained injuries. Tamer Ramadan of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies expressed concern, stating, “The death toll is huge and might reach thousands.”
Reports from media outlets cited a spokesperson from Libya’s eastern government’s interior ministry, who stated that “more than 5,200” individuals had lost their lives in Derna. The city, located 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Benghazi, is characterized by its encirclement by hills and the presence of a normally dry riverbed in the summer, which, after the storm, turned into a destructive torrent of muddy waters, sweeping away bridges and structures.
Derna was home to approximately 100,000 residents, and the devastating flood resulted in the collapse of many multi-story buildings along the riverbed, causing the disappearance of people, their homes, and vehicles in the torrential waters.
With the global community expressing deep concern over the disaster, several nations offered urgent aid and rescue teams to assist the war-torn country. A UN official described the situation as “a calamity of epic proportions.”
In other areas of eastern Libya, the Norwegian Refugee Council reported that “entire villages have been overwhelmed by the floods, and the death toll continues to rise.” The disaster further compounds the challenges faced by communities in Libya, which have endured years of conflict, poverty, and displacement. Hospitals and shelters are expected to be strained by the unfolding crisis.
Oil-rich Libya is still in the process of recovery following years of warfare and instability that ensued after the 2011 NATO-backed uprising, resulting in the toppling and death of the longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi. The nation remains divided between two competing governments: the UN-brokered, internationally recognized administration based in Tripoli and a separate administration in the disaster-affected east.
Rescue teams from Turkey have arrived in eastern Libya, and the United Nations, along with several countries including Algeria, Egypt, France, Italy, Qatar, and Tunisia, have offered assistance. France, for instance, is dispatching a field hospital and approximately 50 military and civilian personnel capable of treating up to 500 people daily, as announced on Tuesday.
In a tragic incident on Tuesday, a bus carrying at least 21 people, including two children and foreign tourists, met with a horrific accident in Venice, resulting in multiple casualties. The bus, which was powered by methane, veered off a bridge in Venice and subsequently caught fire, causing extensive loss of life and injuries.
Venice Regional Governor Luca Zaia confirmed the devastating toll, with at least 21 fatalities and over 20 individuals hospitalized. Describing it as a “tragedy of enormous proportions,” Zaia expressed his condolences and reported that efforts were underway to extract and identify the victims. Among the victims, there were people of various nationalities, not solely Italians, as confirmed by the governor.
Reports indicate that among the deceased were Ukrainian tourists, while other fatalities included citizens of Germany and France. Additionally, three Ukrainians, along with a Croatian, a German, and a French national, sustained injuries in the accident.
The bus had been en route from Venice’s historic center to a nearby camping site when the tragic incident unfolded at around 7:30 pm (1730 GMT). The bus careened off a bridge spanning a railway line, connecting the Mestre and Marghera districts in northern Venice, and subsequently burst into flames. Firefighters swiftly arrived at the scene, where they worked diligently to manage the aftermath of the devastating accident.
The investigation into the accident’s cause is ongoing, with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi mentioning methane as an “aggravating factor” that contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. There are concerns that the death toll may rise as the situation unfolds.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conveyed her deep condolences and assured that she was closely monitoring the situation, maintaining contact with local authorities. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini suggested that the accident could have been triggered by the sudden illness or incapacitation of the bus driver.
The tragedy drew expressions of sympathy from world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Union Chief Ursula von der Leyen. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed deep sorrow over the incident and pledged support for the victims and their families.
As authorities work to manage the aftermath and determine the exact circumstances leading to this devastating accident, the international community joins in mourning the loss of lives in Venice.
In a bid to address the persistent shortage of bus drivers in Tokyo, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has initiated test runs of a self-driving bus. This autonomous vehicle, capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour, commenced its trial on Monday. Operating along a regular loop route that links Shinjuku Station with two key government buildings, the self-driving bus offers a limited seating capacity of 18 passengers. To secure a spot on this cutting-edge journey, passengers are required to reserve their seats in advance through an online booking system.
The test runs are set to continue until October 13, with the self-driving bus running 12 services during the week, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a reduced schedule on weekends and holidays. Tokyo’s metropolitan officials aim to assess the vehicle’s performance in navigating areas with heavy traffic and determine the necessary infrastructure requirements for designated autonomous lanes. Despite Japan’s ambitious strides in pioneering transportation solutions, including level IV autonomous vehicles, experts acknowledge that the widespread adoption of driverless transit in the country still faces considerable challenges.
Bangladesh and India have engaged in discussions regarding the initiation of talks for a free trade agreement aimed at bolstering their economic ties. This noteworthy development emerged during an official-level meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade (JWG) between the two nations, which took place in Dhaka last week.
The discussions, as outlined by the Indian Commerce Ministry, encompassed a wide array of bilateral issues. These included addressing port restrictions, laying the groundwork for the commencement of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), aligning standards, mutual recognition of standards, and ensuring the supply of essential commodities to Bangladesh.
These annual meetings serve as a crucial platform for both countries to delve into key trade-related concerns and explore opportunities for collaboration, trade expansion, technical cooperation, and diversification of their economic engagement.
CEPA, a variant of a free trade agreement, involves a substantial reduction or elimination of customs duties on a substantial portion of traded goods between the participating nations. Additionally, CEPA facilitates the easing of regulations to encourage trade in services and investments.
In the course of the meeting, discussions also revolved around matters pertaining to the enhancement of road and rail infrastructure, regional connectivity via multi-modal transportation, and the development or fortification of infrastructure at Land Customs Stations and Integrated Check Posts, as well as the establishment of border haats.
Notably, bilateral trade between the two nations has seen fluctuations, with it registering at $14.2 billion in the fiscal year 2022-23, compared to $8.13 billion in the preceding fiscal year 2021-22.
