The death toll from recent flooding in Libya has risen to over 3,000 people in the eastern port city of Derna alone, a senior government official stated on Tuesday, after visiting the storm-ravaged city.
“Bodies are lying everywhere,” the minister from Libya’s eastern-based government told Reuters in Derna, which remains largely underwater after two dams and four bridges collapsed last week amid torrential rains.
The city of around 100,000 residents has been devastated by the widespread flooding resulting from Storm Daniel. Across Libya, the Red Cross reports that up to 10,000 people are still missing following the storm’s impact.
The updated death toll reflects the immense destruction and loss of life caused by the flooding across Libya, though details remain scarce given the ongoing recovery efforts. Officials expect the number of fatalities to continue rising as more areas become accessible.