5,300 killed, 10,000 missing in Libya, as violent storm sweeps cities
According to Red Cross representative Tamer Ramadan, some 10,000 people are still missing after the floods.
TRIPOLI, Libya – A violent storm devastated eastern Libya, killing at least 5,300 people and leaving 10,000 missing due to flash floods.
The storm, named Daniel, brought heavy rains and flooding to the region and caused widespread damage.
The health minister of the Libyan parliament-appointed government, Osman Abdulcelil, told Turkey’s Anadolu news agency that most of the 3,000 deaths were in the city of Derna.
Entire neighborhoods were swept away in the city.
According to Red Cross representative Tamer Ramadan, some 10,000 people are still missing after the floods.
He warns that the death toll is “enormous” and is expected to rise by thousands in the coming days.
Hichem Chkiouat, minister of civil aviation, who returned from the area, said he saw bodies lying everywhere–in the sea, in the valleys, and under buildings.
The internationally recognized government in Tripoli has sent aid to Derna, and other countries have also offered their help.
The United Nations has warned that the disaster is a “humanitarian emergency” and called for urgent international assistance.
The storm has also highlighted how fragile the situation is in Libya, which has been divided between rival governments since 2011.
After raging across Greece last week, Storm Daniel swept across the Mediterranean on Sunday, flooding roads and wreaking havoc in Libya.
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