2,000 people believed dead in flooding in eastern Libya, official says
CTV
The head of one of Libya's rival governments said Monday that 2,000 people are feared dead in flooding that swept through the eastern parts of the north African nation.
The head of one of Libya's rival governments said Monday that 2,000 people are feared dead in flooding that swept through the eastern parts of the north African nation.
In a phone interview with al-Masar television station Monday, Prime Minister Ossama Hamad said that 2,000 were feared dead in the eastern city of Derna, and thousands of others are reported missing.
He said the floods have swept away entire neighbourhoods in Derna, which has been declared a disaster zone, after the country was hit by Mediterranean storm Daniel.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below.
At least 27 people were reported dead Monday in eastern Libya after the Mediterranean storm Daniel caused devastating floods over the weekend in different parts of the North African nation. Authorities declared at least one city a disaster zone.
Othman Abduljaleel, the health minister of the east Libya government, announced the death toll Monday afternoon in a telephone interview on the Saudi-owned satellite news channel Al-Arabiya. He said at least 50 others were missing.
Abduljaleel said the tally didn't include the city of Derna -- declared a disaster zone -- where the situation remained unclear as of Monday afternoon.
