The death toll in eastern Libya following devastating floods has surpassed 11,000, according to the Libyan Red Crescent. On Friday, the organization reported least 11,300 people have died, with another 10,100 reported missing. Widespread flooding in the North African nation has been attributed to Mediterranean storm Daniel, which caused heavy rain, washed away entire neighborhoods, and carried bodies out to sea. The city of Derna was particularly affected, with two dams collapsing, resulting in the destruction of a quarter of the area. Local officials declared the city a disaster zone, with electricity and communication services cut off.
Aid from numerous countries has been pledged, but delivering supplies to the affected regions has proved challenging due to blocked roads and destroyed bridges. The ongoing political situation, where the country is divided between two warring governments, has further hindered rescue efforts. The lack of a functioning meteorological service has also been pointed out as a contributing factor to the high number of casualties. The head of the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization stated on Thursday that most of the flooding-related deaths could have been prevented if the country had a reliable meteorological service in place.
