Here are the latest developments after the catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya when two dams collapsed following a huge storm:
The mayor of the port city Derna estimates that 18,000 to 20,000 people died when two dams burst, releasing a tsunami of water as people slept
Abdulmenam Al-Ghaithi told al-Arabiya TV his estimate was based on the number of districts completely destroyed by the flood water and said he needs teams specialised in recovering bodies.
Disease is the next threat. The UN has warned of the danger of disease from the contaminated water.
An official from the Tobruk-based eastern Libyan government said the sea was “constantly dumping dozens of bodies”.
More than 5,000 people are known to have died, and at least 10,000 are missing.
International aid and rescue efforts are ramping up with rescue teams from countries including Egypt, Tunisia, Italy, Spain and Turkey on the ground.
Leaders of Libya’s Tripoli-based administration are calling for an inquiry into the dam collapse.
