Libyan officials jailed

A Libyan court has sentenced twelve officials to prison terms ranging from nine to 27 years for their roles in the catastrophic dam collapses in Derna last September, which resulted in over 4,300 deaths. The convicted individuals, responsible for managing the country's dams, were found guilty of negligence, premeditated murder, and wasting public funds. They were also ordered to repay money obtained through illicit means, while four other defendants were acquitted. The disaster was exacerbated by Storm Daniel, which brought unprecedented rainfall, overwhelming the dams and causing extensive flooding. An international report indicated that the dam failures were due to poor maintenance and outdated designs, estimating that $1.8 billion is needed for reconstruction. Libya has faced ongoing political turmoil since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, complicating effective governance and infrastructure management.