Officials jailed for deadly floods

Twelve Libyan officials have received sentences ranging between nine and 27 years in prison for their role in catastrophic dam collapses that killed more than 4 000 people in September. BBC News reports that entire neighbourhoods in the city of Derna were flooded, and evacuation efforts were botched. The dams gave way partly due to poor maintenance and governance during more than a decade of conflict in Libya. Africa News reports that the dams were built by a Yugoslav construction company in the 1970s above Wadi Derna, a river valley that divides the city. They were meant to protect the city from flash floods, which are not uncommon in the area. The dams were not maintained for decades, despite warnings from scientists that they could burst. The convicted officials were responsible for managing water resources and maintaining the dams. They were charged with negligence, premeditated murder and wasting public money, Reuters reported. Four others were acquitted.