World News / 18 September 2023
Derna’s death toll jumps

The death toll from last week’s flash flooding in Libya has risen to more than 11,300 people, according to a weekend report from the United Nations. The city of Derna on Libya’s east coast was hit hardest when Storm Daniel dumped torrential rain on the region, causing major dams to collapse, and prosecutors are looking into whether negligence was a factor. On top of the confirmed death toll, authorities say at least 10,100 people are still missing. Rescuers are continuing to search for bodies – they say many are washing up onshore after people were swept out to sea in the rush of water. Before-and-after satellite images show the devastation, with roads washed away and the city split in half. At least 30,000 people are displaced in Derna, and reports say they’re dealing with medical and fresh water shortages. That means an increased risk of cholera, malnutrition, diarrhoea, and dehydration – particularly amongst local children. And the long-running dysfunction between Libya’s rival governments isn’t making aid efforts any easier…
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