International desk: Libya is affected by severe floods. The death toll from floods in the country’s eastern city of Derna has surpassed 6,000 as of Wednesday. Also, thousands of people are missing. News from the BBC and Al Jazeera The country’s eastern minister has warned that the death toll could double. According to the report, the country’s rescue teams are struggling to rescue people who were washed away in the sea by floods like a tsunami. Two dams and four bridges collapsed in Derna city. As a result, a large part of the city was swept away by Cyclone Daniel, which hit last Sunday.
According to the Red Crescent, about 10,000 people are still missing, and the death toll may rise. A doctor from the eastern city of Benghazi went to the city of Derna to treat the wounded. He described the dire situation in the city. He said he and his colleagues were stunned by what they were seeing in Derna. Doctor Anas told the BBC, “We are seeing a large number of bodies lying in the area. It’s a total disaster. I’m really shocked. He also said that the people of the city are so emotionally disturbed that they cannot cry. Before being buried in a grave, many bodies are placed on the side of the road so that their relatives can identify them.
This doctor also said that the entire area has been wiped out. Small-scale rescue operations have already begun in the city. Egypt also joined it. Due to the political situation in Libya, this activity is somewhat hindered. The country is now divided under the control of two governments. Some countries, including the United States, Germany, Iran, Italy, Qatar, and Turkey, have said they are also ready to provide the necessary assistance. Video footage taken in the dark on Sunday in Libya shows dozens of cars washed away by floodwaters in city streets. In addition to the distressing incident of many people being washed away in the sea water, many have taken a position on the roof of their houses to protect themselves.
“I was shocked by what I saw,” said Hisham Chokiwat, one of the government-controlled eastern regions of Libya. It was like a tsunami. He told the BBC that a dam collapsed south of the city of Derna, leaving large parts of the city under seawater. Another person named Ali Debiyah said that the rescuers are also struggling to recover the bodies. However, the navy and divers are trying to recover the bodies from the sea. Qasim al-Qatani, an aid worker in the city of Bayda, told the BBC that it was difficult for rescuers to reach the city of Derna as the city’s main roads were heavily damaged.
