Libya flood death toll could rise to 20,000

리비아 홍수 사망자 2만 명 이를 수도 리비아에 국제사회 지원 쇄도 Over in Libya. Residents of the devastated city of Derna are desperately searching for missing people, while more help and rescue efforts pour in after the catastrophic flooding. Our Lee Eun-hee has more. Storm Daniel that struck northeastern Libya on Sunday night, has left at least 6,000 people dead,. and thousands more missing. Flash flooding caused extensive damage, all the way to the coast, after a torrential downpour caused 2 dams to collapse. The water that those dams had been holding back, combined with the extreme rainfall, washed away entire neighborhoods, collapsing buildings and trapping residents under mountains of rubble. "This entire city has been annihilated. There are victims still under the rubble, and some are in the sea. There are bodies buried in mass graves because the cemeteries are full." Derna Mayor Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television the estimated number of deaths in the city could reach between 18,000 to 20,000 based on the number of districts destroyed by the flooding. Scientists say that climate change may have increased the severity of the storm that caused the extreme weather event. "The state alone cannot handle this. We need to be clear about that. Our resources are limited. Many have come forward to help with what they can, but we are looking for help from organizations like the United Nations." In response, the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination System has dispatched an emergency response team to help with response and relief efforts. The UN has also allocated 10-million U.S. dollars, from the Central Emergency Response Fund, to support those affected. The World Food Programme is sending food aid to over 5,000 affected families. "Storm Daniel is yet another lethal reminder of the catastrophic impact that a changing climate can have on our world. I call on all Libyan political actors to overcome political deadlocks and divisions and to act collectively in ensuring access to relief." The European Union says it'll provide 5-hundred-thousand Euros in immediate humanitarian funding, while countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Egypt and Turkiye have also vowed to provide support. Lee Eun-Hee, Arirang News. #Libya #Flood #Damage #UN #리비아 #대홍수 #피해 #지원 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook :   / arirangtvnews   📣 Twitter :   / arirangtvnews   📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2023-09-14, 18:00 (KST)