The catastrophic flood in Libya’s Derna has claimed 11,300 lives with over 10,100 still missing. Derna Mayor Abdel-Moneim al-Ghaithi said the death toll could climb to 20,000.
The U.N. humanitarian office appealed for $71.4 million to help the more than 250,000 Libyans affected.
What caused flooding
The coastal city was hit by Storm Daniel this week, which breached two dams, unleashing a torrential cascade of water from the mountains and sweeping entire neighborhoods into the sea.
Local experts say aging infrastructure, inadequate warning, and the escalating climate crisis are to blame. The country’s attorney general has been asked to investigate the disaster.