Libya, Over 5,000 Dead Due to Major Flood... 10,000 Missing

International Red Cross Federation Envoy: "As Destructive as Morocco"

Over 5,000 people have died due to massive flooding in Libya, North Africa, AP News reported on the 12th (local time), citing Libya's state news agency. The number of missing persons is estimated to be close to 10,000, indicating that the death toll may rise further.

On the 11th (local time), the downtown area of Marji in northeastern Libya submerged due to flooding.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

A spokesperson for Libya's Ministry of Interior stated that more than 5,300 deaths occurred in the northeastern Derna region alone. Previously, local authorities in Derna had reported 2,300 deaths.

According to Al Jazeera and other outlets, Storm Daniel struck Libya on the 10th, causing massive flooding in Benghazi, Sousse, Derna, Marj, and other areas. In particular, two dams in the northeastern city of Derna collapsed due to the storm, flooding nearby urban and rural areas and causing extensive damage. The water released from the dams overwhelmed Derna, resulting in around 10,000 people missing.

Tamer Ramadan, the Libya envoy for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), also said, "An unprecedented flood has caused 10,000 people to go missing," and predicted that "the death toll will reach thousands within days."

Ramadan further mentioned the earthquake that occurred on the opposite side of North Africa in Morocco, stating that Libya's situation is "as devastating as Morocco's," according to AP News.

Osama Hamad, Prime Minister of the eastern Libyan government, described the damage as "far beyond our recovery capacity," while Health Minister Osman Abduljaleel lamented it as a "catastrophic situation."

Prime Minister Hamad declared the entire affected area, including Derna, a disaster zone and announced a three-day mourning period the previous day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.