TRIPOLI: Libya’s Tripoli-based unity government has said that 70 percent of the infrastructure in eastern Libya has been damaged by the catastrophic flash floods, Turkish media reported on Monday.
Al-Hussein Swedan, head of the Transport Ministry’s roads and bridges department in a statement said 11 bridges collapsed due to the floods, including two important bridges that connected Derna with the cities of Soussa and al-Qubba.
Derna worst hit by devastating floods
The city of Derna was worst hit by devastating flooding caused by Mediterranean Storm Daniel on September 10, making the city’s dams to collapse and washing away houses and people.
The official went on to say 80 percent of the water pipelines in all eastern towns and villages had been destroyed or damaged while 50 percent of the roads in the affected areas were damaged.
Swedan said that his department opened different routes in flood-hit areas.
According to the UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA), at least 3,958 people have been died in Libya due to flooding. Earlier it reported that the death toll in flood-hit Libya had risen to 11,300.
Read Also: UN Warns of Disease Threat in Flood-Ravaged Libya, Calls for Urgent Humanitarian Aid
On Saturday, the Eastern Libya-based Health Minister Osama Hamad said that to date 3,252 dead bodies had been buried.
More than 40,000 people have been displaced in northeastern Libya due to deadly floods, the UN office said.
Meanwhile, the United Nations issued a warning on Monday, that disease outbreaks pose a second devastating crisis to Libya.
The United Nations, which has launched an emergency appeal for more than $71 million, announced that nine of its agencies are actively providing assistance to survivors and working to prevent the spread of diseases.
On Monday, the European Union announced the release of approximately $5.5 million in humanitarian assistance to flood-hit Libya.
