Key takeaways:
- At least 2,300 people have been confirmed dead and another 10,000 are still missing.
- At least 700 recovered bodies have been buried so far.
- People in the city are struggling to cope with the aftermath of the disaster, with many left homeless and without basic necessities.
Cairo (AP) – Emergency workers in Libya’s eastern city of Derna uncovered hundreds of bodies on Tuesday as they dug through the wreckage left by a devastating flood. At least 2,300 people have been confirmed dead and another 10,000 are still missing.
The floodwaters broke through dams and smashed through the city, washing away entire neighborhoods. Othman Abduljaleel, the health minister in Libya’s eastern government, described the situation as “catastrophic.”
Tamer Ramadan, Libya envoy to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told a video news conference Tuesday that the final death toll could be much higher. He told a U.N. briefing in Geneva via videoconference from Tunisia that at least 10,000 people were still missing.
At least 700 recovered bodies have been buried so far, the health minister for eastern Libya said. Aid groups warned that the toll is likely to rise significantly in the coming days.
The Ambulance and Emergency Service is continuing to search for survivors and victims of the flood. People in the city are struggling to cope with the aftermath of the disaster, with many left homeless and without basic necessities.
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