Catastrophic Floods in Eastern Libya May Have Claimed up to 20,000 Lives
Eastern Libya – Devastation and tragedy have struck the eastern region of Libya as fears mount that the catastrophic floods on Sunday may have claimed the lives of as many as 20,000 people. The mayor of the ravaged port city of Derna, which bore the brunt of the disaster, revealed that this estimate is based on the extensive destruction witnessed across multiple districts when two dams burst, unleashing a torrent of water while residents slept.
The toll of this calamity is already staggering, with over 5,300 fatalities confirmed, and approximately 30,000 individuals forcibly displaced by the relentless deluge. As the magnitude of the disaster becomes increasingly apparent, international relief efforts are swiftly mobilizing to provide aid and support.
Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) is dispatching relief workers to the afflicted city today, Thursday, in an effort to bolster emergency response teams. The situation on the ground remains dire, with numerous bodies still buried beneath the rubble or lost at sea. Rescue teams are urgently appealing for additional body bags to aid in the recovery process.
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Compounding the tragedy, thousands of people remain unaccounted for, further complicating rescue efforts as teams strive to access the heavily affected city of Derna. The devastation wrought by these catastrophic floods has left a profound mark on the region, prompting a united international response aimed at mitigating the suffering and assisting those in need.
As the world watches this unfolding humanitarian crisis, our thoughts are with the affected communities, and we will continue to monitor and report on the situation as more details emerge.