Libya flood disaster: Death toll ‘may reach 20,000’- Mayor

The Mayor of the Eastern Libyan port city of Derna, Abdulmenam Al-Ghaithi has estimated that between 18,000 and 20,000 people have died in flooding.

Mr Al-Ghaithi told al-Arabiya Television that his estimate was based on the number of districts that were entirely destroyed when two dams burst.

Spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Jens Laerke warned of the danger of disease from contaminated water in Libya.

Media reports say the two rival governments in Libya, the internationally-backed administration in the west based in Tripoli and the Benghazi-based one in the east – are coordinating relief efforts for the flood victims.

President Bola Tinubu had condoled with the government and people of Libya over the devastating impact of Storm Daniel and the subsequent flooding that has severely affected the eastern region of the country.