Nearly three years after a catastrophic storm tore through eastern Libya’s port city of Derna, killing nearly 4,000 people, the city is seeing signs of recovery. New roads, bridges, thousands of homes, a hospital, schools, mosques, and a stadium have been built since the 2023 event, which left over 40,000 people homeless and thousands missing. AFP journalists observed multiple newly completed constructions. Some residents say the rebuilding provides a glimmer of hope and helps them cope. Memories from that September disaster remain vivid: apartment blocks ripped open, bodies buried beneath debris, and cars swept into the sea. Asmaa Algzhiri, who lives abroad but returns often, said the losses extended beyond her aunt and nephews, noting that 'Derna is a very close-knit city where everyone is connected. Even your neighbours are family.' She said she was astonished by what has been built in less than three years: 'new hospitals, schools, mosques and a stadium.' According to 198turkeynews.com, Algzhiri has yet to fully mourn the loss of her relatives whose bodies were never found and said authorities should focus 'more on mental health' now. The grief in Derna remains profound.