Libya Flood: Death Toll Exceeds 2,000,Still Counting

Over 2,000 persons have reportedly been killed, with at least 10,000 more yet to be accounted for, following huge mediterranean storm-induced floods that swept over Libya’s coastal city of Derna.

 Reports by Reuters also indicate that the floods, which ripped dams apart, also swept away hundreds of building with Derna, a city of about 125,000 inhabitants, practically wiped out.

Quoting the Director of Wahda Hospital, Mohamad al-Qabisi,  Reuters reports that 1,700 people died in one of the city's two districts, while 500 others were killed in the second.

Other reports say the city is now the site of wrecked neighbourhoods, with buildings washed out, cars flipped on their roofs and streets all over, covered in mud and rubble, the left over of a wide torrent that accompanied the dams burst.

Officials say death toll is expected to rise

Meanwhile, minister of Aviation, Hichem Abu Chkiouat, who confirmed the death toll, pointed out that the number of dead in the area is overwhelming.

"Bodies are lying everywhere-in the sea, in the valleys, under the buildings.

"I am not exaggerating when I say that 25% of the city has disappeared. Many, many buildings have collapsed," Abu Chkiouat, who said he expects the toll to peak at 2,500, pointed out on phone after a visit to the scene.