At least 30,000 people are now displaced due to the massive floods that swept through Libya, destroyed dams and washed away entire cities.
#Libya 🚨 mass graves of disaster victims and over 10,000 missing numbers are growing.#LibyaFloods
— Kiu tv (@KizyUzoma) September 13, 2023
The death toll reached 5,300 as a result of the floods that struck cities in eastern #Libya, while the number of missing people is estimated at thousands. pic.twitter.com/xJ4i5Wi8lY
Sky News reported that over 5,000 bodies have been recovered and the death toll is expected to significantly increase.
Footage of rescuers digging out victims displayed a father mourning the loss and telling Red Crescent Society volunteers, “Keep them there, don’t carry them at all. I will do it.”
“Our hearts are with you, we’re all with you,” the volunteer told him.
The floods were caused by Mediterranean storm Daniel, which broke damns and sent 23-foot high waves through the city of Derna and other areas.
At least 10,000 people are still missing, and efforts to find survivors and lay those who died to rest are ongoing.
Survivor Ahmed Abdalla has volunteered to help rescuers and has been helping to take bodies to the local hospital garden in preparation for digging mass graves in the one cemetery that remains intact.
Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates have sent aid and rescue teams to help with the recovery.
On Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said, “My thoughts are with all those affected by the catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya.”
“The UK stands ready to provide assistance. We are in contact with the Libyan authorities and the UN to urgently assess what support we can provide to help the Libyan people at this tragic time,” he added.
President Joe Biden has also pledged to send aid and is currently working with Libyan officials and the UN, but getting supplies to the affected areas has proven difficult due to the nature of the disaster.
Globe Eye News displayed back-to-back images of the city of Derna before and after the flooding to show the catastrophic destruction.
Derna, Libya, after devastating flooding The United Nations says 30,000 people have been left homeless by the recent flooding in Libya.#Libya l #LibyaFloods l #Derna pic.twitter.com/QrlnkAPNxq
— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) September 13, 2023
The flooded image showed how the water washed directly into the sea and clogged the city with water and mud.
