Libya’s tragic floods have claimed thousands of lives and left the residents of the city of Derna facing the threat of a potential epidemic as thousands of others remain unaccounted for.
Rescue workers in the Libyan city are scrambling for additional body bags as the aftermath of tragic floods caused by Storm Daniel continues to unfold. The situation is raising concerns about potential health hazards stemming from the decomposition of bodies still in the floodwaters and under collapsed structures.
Derna, a port city with a population of approximately 100,000, has been plunged into chaos in the wake of the catastrophic storm that struck its shores on Sunday night.
The city’s mayor, Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi, expressed grave concerns about the deteriorating situation.
“We actually need teams specialized in recovering bodies. I fear that the city will be infected with an epidemic due to the large number of bodies under the rubble and in the water,” the Guardian quoted him as saying.
The death toll estimates are staggering, with Ghaithi suggesting that it could range between 18,000 and 20,000 casualties.
The city’s minister of civil aviation Hichem Abu Chkiouat described the horrifying scene, saying that “the sea is constantly dumping dozens of bodies.”
Aid workers on the ground reported an equally grim reality, with one telling the Associated Press that “bodies are everywhere, inside houses, in the streets, at sea. Wherever you go, you find dead men, women, and children.”
Another pressing concern is the fate of the injured citizens, as hospitals in the affected region are almost non-operational due to the extensive damage caused by the floods.
International aid is gradually making its way to Derna. Rescue teams from Egypt, Tunisia, the UAE, Turkey, and Qatar have joined efforts to provide much-needed assistance.
The UK has also announced an initial aid package of $1.25 million to support relief operations.
