Thousands Feared Dead or Missing in Libya’s Derna Flooding
(AWP) - The spokesperson for the Libyan National Army, Ahmed al-Mismari, said a large number of people are feared dead or missing in eastern Libya due to the flooding that hit the country as a result of Storm Daniel.
He said, in a press conference, “The number of deaths has exceeded 2,000 while 5,000 to 6,000 people are reported missing in Derna.” He added that the number is likely to rise significantly.
“We are facing an exceptional and unprecedented event. We need cooperation and awareness of the risks involved. We have lost whole families in Derna and other affected areas.”
He noted that dams in southern Derna have collapsed, causing all bridges in the city to collapse and entire neighborhoods to be swept into the sea.
Mismari indicated that more than 35 people were reportedly killed in the rest of the regions of eastern Libya, including foreigners.
“The flooding has caused wide-scale devastation as all roads in the area were completely or partially cut off,” Mismari said, adding the army has sent more units into the flooded areas but could not use the air force due to bad weather conditions.
The Mediterranean Storm Daniel, which struck Libya over the past couple of days, has flooded several cities in the eastern areas of the country, namely al-Bayda, Shahat and Derna.