Libya Disaster: Estimated death toll now 20,000 says Mayor of Derna

Colombo (News 1st) - The estimated death toll has risen to up to 20,000 from the catastrophic collapse of two dams that resulted in much of the Libyan port city of Derna being destroyed by a massive flood, the mayor of Derna said. Earlier estimates had put the estimated death toll at 6,000 with another 10,000 missing.

The dams on the river Derna burst on Sunday night (10th) after massive rains dumped by Storm Daniel. Entire neighborhoods of the city of 100,000 people were simply swept into the sea including apartment buildings and houses, and bodies have been washing up on beaches for the last several days. Many other bodies remain underneath the rubble.

Tens of thousands have also been displaced and are living in makeshift camps. Many countries have rushed aid and rescue workers to the eastern Libyan town on the Mediterranean coast, including Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Italy, Spain, and Qatar.

Mayor Abdulmenam Al-Ghaithi told al-Arabiya TV that his estimate was based on the number of districts completely destroyed.

The storm also caused flooding in other cities and towns such as Benghazi, Susa, Bayda, and al-Marj. But none were struck by the disaster that hit Derna.