Libya’s health minister said that more than 3,000 people are believed to have died in devastating floods across eastern Libya.
Tamer Ramadan, Libya envoy for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said that another 10,000 people are believed to be missing.
He said that the death toll is huge and might reach thousands.
In just the city of Derna, the worst hit area, at least 700 people have been confirmed dead from the unprecedented flooding. A quarter of Derna was wiped out after the dams burst and the city was declared a disaster zone, with electricity and communication having been cut off.
Authorities also said that an additional 1,200 people were injured in the flooding in Derna.
The cities of Al Marj, Susah, Shahat and Al Bayda have also recorded several fatalities.
Gen. Khalifa Haftar, head of the powerful Libyan military faction that controls the eastern part of the divided country on Tuesday said that rescue and relief efforts were underway on Tuesday to assist those affected by the flooding.
