What are survivors describing from the Derna flood ordeal?

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Survivors Recount Terrifying Ordeal of Sudden, Violent Flooding in Derna

Survivors of the Derna flash flood described a terrifying experience where water levels rose suddenly and violently within seconds, carrying away people, vehicles, and entire buildings. The ordeal, which lasted only an hour or two, felt like an eternity to those trapped, with accounts detailing the immense power of the floodwaters and the profound loss experienced by the city's residents.
Sudden and Overwhelming Inundation

Accounts from survivors paint a picture of an almost instantaneous deluge. One individual recounted how the water level "suddenly rose" within seconds, sweeping him and his mother away. The surge was so powerful that the water reached the fourth floor of the building they managed to reach for safety, with the water level inside still at the second floor.
Witnessing Devastation and Loss

The terrifying experience was accompanied by harrowing sights and sounds. Survivors reported hearing screams and witnessing cars and bodies being carried away by the powerful current. The scale of destruction was immense, with an AFP photographer describing central neighborhoods as looking as if a "steam roller had passed through," uprooting trees and buildings and hurling vehicles onto breakwaters.
The Emotional Toll of the Disaster

The psychological impact of the disaster was profound, with survivors reporting that the hour or hour and a half of the ordeal felt like an entire year. Beyond the immediate terror, the long-term consequences are marked by the search for thousands of missing friends and loved ones, many of whom are feared buried under mud or swept out to sea. Rescue teams have discovered grim scenes, such as a woman's body found still clutching her deceased child in a destroyed home.

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What are survivors describing from the Derna flood ordeal?

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