Libya Floods Catastrophe: 5,300 Bodies Found as Death Toll Soars
A massive humanitarian disaster is unfolding in Libya after Storm Daniel unleashed catastrophic floods. At least 30,000 people are now homeless, with officials warning the death toll is set to climb dramatically.
Derna Ground Zero: Town Wiped Out by Raging Floodwaters
The eastern town of Derna has taken the brunt of the devastation. Storm Daniel’s ferocious winds and sudden torrential rain caused deadly floods, smashing roads and telecoms. Authorities say they lack the expertise to cope with such an epic disaster and are urgently calling for international help.
Shocking Scale of Disaster as Bodies Wash Ashore
- Over 5,300 bodies recovered so far in eastern Libya
- Sea keeps depositing dozens more bodies daily
- Floodwaters surged from collapsed dams, sending 23-foot waves crashing through Derna
Hichem Abu Chkiouat, Libya’s civil aviation minister in the east, warned reconstruction will cost billions. Locals told harrowing tales of explosions as dams gave way, sending a deluge down the Wadi Derna river. The flood obliterated everything in its path.
Rescue Workers and Survivors Dig Through Rubble
Yann Fridez of the International Committee of the Red Cross called the human toll “enormous.” Teams are working round-the-clock to recover bodies scattered across the ruined city. Survivors and volunteers are helping with grim mass burials in the only remaining cemetery after bodies were gathered in a hospital garden.
