Libya: 245 bodies recovered in one day in flood-stricken Derna city

Search and rescue teams recovered 245 bodies in a single day from the flood-affected city of Derna, Libya’s Government of National Unity announced today.

Storm Daniel wreaked havoc in the Central Mediterranean and struck eastern Libya on 10 September, leading to floods in several cities, including Benghazi, Bayda, Al Marj, Suse and Derna, resulting in a significant loss of life and many missing individuals.

Malik Marseet, a spokesman for the Emergency Medicine and Support Center, said that the bodies were discovered at various coastal locations in Derna city yesterday.

Search operations are ongoing in all coastal areas of Derna, its valleys and water bodies, and the centre continues to receive reports of discovered bodies.

Prime Minister of the GNU, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, declared three days of mourning on 11 September after the flooding, and the Libyan Presidential Council called for humanitarian assistance from brother countries and international institutions.

During a virtual press conference on Wednesday, Tarik Jasarevic, the World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson, confirmed that the flood in Libya had resulted in 3,998 fatalities, with 8,000 to 9,000 people still missing.

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