The situation in Libya is catastrophic: “There are corpses everywhere”

2023-09-13 01:11:00

After the catastrophic floods in Libya, more than 2,300 dead people were recovered yesterday in the massively affected city of Darna alone. The government expects more than 5,200 deaths. According to the Red Cross, 10,000 people are still missing.

“The situation is catastrophic. There are bodies everywhere – in the sea, in the valleys, under the buildings,” said the aviation minister of the government in power in the east, Hichem Chkiuat. “I’m not exaggerating when I say that 25 percent of the city has disappeared.”

Picture gallery: Devastating damage after storms in Libya

(Foto: – (The Press Office of Libyan Prime)) Bild 1/40

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Ahmed Mismari, spokesman for the Libyan National Army, explained why the disaster was so terrible: After the heaviest rains in more than 40 years, the dams collapsed. Entire parts of the city and their residents were washed into the sea. The Libyan Presidential Council immediately requested international assistance and declared three provinces disaster areas. Turkey is now initiating the deployment of rescue workers. President Erdogan said flights had been organized with rescue teams including lifeboats, tents and supplies. Neighboring Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the EU also pledged support.