UN: The number of victims from the flood in Derna totals over 11,000

The United Nations Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that the number of victims has increased to about 11,300 in Libya's Derna as a result. But these figures have been rejected by officials, who have said the number is much smaller.

This UN agency said that another 10,000 people are considered missing in Darna, meanwhile, 170 people have died from floods in other parts east of Libya.

“These numbers are expected to increase as the search-saving teams are working without letup to find survivors”, the Humanitary Affairs Co-ordination Office said.

This UN agency attributed these figures to the Libyan Red Halfage. But a spokesman for this relief group expressed surprise at the figure presented.

“In what sources are these numbers called”, Tawfiq al-Sukri told the Dpa.

The official number [of victims] is published by agencies authorised by Libyan authorities”, he said.

Various figures have emerged from Libya as regards the number of victims. This state is divided, with an administration government in the east and one in the west.

Earlier this week, the mayor of Derna said that up to 20,000 people may have died in this city. But, on Saturday, the government to the east of the state said the official number of victims is 3.252.

Earlier, the World Health Organization said that almost 4,000 people killed by floods have been identified.

A powerful storm struck Libya on September 10th. The storm, dubbed Daniel, had earlier hit Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey.

Two dams were destroyed in the mountains over the port of Derna, causing the city to overflow with about 100,000 inhabitants.

As a result of this natural disaster, some international organizations have warned of the danger of spreading diseases because of the contamination of the water system. / REL