A catastrophe of unprecedented proportions has struck eastern Libya as massive floods have wreaked havoc, leaving up to 3,000 people dead, and an astounding 10,000 individuals unaccounted for. The scale of this natural disaster has overwhelmed the region, prompting an urgent response from authorities.

Libya’s Red Crescent spokesperson Taqfiq Shukri confirmed on Tuesday that 2,084 people have tragically lost their lives, while the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Tamer Ramada, revealed the staggering number of missing individuals, saying, “The number of missing people is hitting 10,000 so far.”

Estimates suggest that around 20,000 people have been displaced, with Libya’s eastern administration, based in Benghazi, estimating that 3,000 people have perished in this calamity.

In response to this dire situation, Government of National Unity Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah announced on Tuesday that an aid plane carrying 14 tonnes of essential supplies and medical personnel is en route to Benghazi to provide assistance. However, challenges remain in reaching the hardest-hit city of Derna.

Relief convoys are traversing from the western to the eastern regions of divided Libya, as the internationally recognised Tripoli government declared the eastern region a disaster zone and pledged to send aid.

Disturbingly, the Benghazi administration reports that more than 1,000 bodies have been recovered in the Mediterranean city of Derna, further underscoring the magnitude of the tragedy.

The devastating floods were triggered by Storm Daniel, which swept across eastern Libya on Monday. The torrents caused two dams on the Wadi Derna River to breach, unleashing millions of cubic meters of water downstream, inundating the river plain and inflicting severe damage on Derna.

Apartment buildings partially collapsed, and a seafront bridge was washed away as a deluge of water surged toward the sea.

The storm disrupted communication with Derna, further complicating the collection of information regarding casualties and damage.

Benghazi Minister of Civil Aviation Hichem Chkiouat visited Derna and shared a grim assessment, stating, “Bodies are lying everywhere – in the sea, in the valleys, under the buildings.” He added, “I am not exaggerating when I say that 25 percent of the city has disappeared.” The region now faces a daunting task of recovery and rebuilding as it grapples with the aftermath of this devastating flood disaster.