Divers from the Russian Emergencies Ministry have initiated a survey of the port in the flood-affected city of Derna. Their primary objective is to search for casualties and recover vehicles that were swept away by the floodwaters. This information was provided by the ministry's press service to TASS.
"Russian Emergencies Ministry specialists have commenced a survey of the port. Diving teams equipped with echo sounders are carefully inspecting the seabed, which reaches depths of up to 8 meters. At the bottom, they encounter piles of debris, remnants of collapsed structures, and vehicles that have been severely damaged," stated the press service.
The department further explained that Russian Emergencies Ministry diving teams, in collaboration with Libyan rescuers, are conducting operations to locate casualties and retrieve vehicles swept away by the water current. "In the initial phase, divers inspect the pier wall and air pockets that have formed beneath the pier. Watercraft equipped with sonar systems for both circular and side-view scans are used to survey the water area and mark locations containing various objects, vehicles, and deceased individuals. Subsequently, divers descend to these marked points," the department added.
The operation is made more challenging due to the significant presence of household waste within the voids and air pockets, as emphasized by the Russian EMERCOM. Consequently, to safely and meticulously reach specific targets, rescuers must first clear away rubble, including stones, debris from structures, and other materials. Along the coastline, onshore teams of rescuers are conducting ground surveys of the port area.
Russian Emergencies Ministry rescuers initiated search and rescue activities in the town of Derna, Libya, on September 17, following the deployment of the Tsentrospas airmobile hospital.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Moscow-Live/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS