Storm Daniel: 20,000 feared dead in Libya's Derna after devastating floods

The mayor of the Libyan city of Derna has said that the estimated number of deaths could reach 20,000 after catastrophic floods from Storm Daniel wiped out whole parts of the coastal town. He said this estimate was based on the scale of destruction in the eastern region, particularly as entire neighbourhoods were swept away in Derna.

A surge in floodwaters from Storm Daniel caused two dams to collapse, sending torrents to Derna and effectively destroying one-quarter of the city. Multiple other cities in northeastern Libya were also severely damaged by the storm and floods.

Storm Daniel, Libya’s worst natural disaster in 40 years, has left at least 30,000 homeless. The surprise storm, which first struck the country on 10 September, has raised inevitable questions about the destructive effects of the global climate crisis.

A spokesperson for the Libyan National Army, which controls eastern Libya, has told media that the confirmed death toll has exceeded 7,000.

Produced by Alexander Durie