East Libya gov’t plans to isolate worst-hit flood areas in Derna city

By Moataz Wanees

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) – East Libya-based government plans to isolate areas hit hardest by deadly floods in Derna city.

"We intend to apply a plan to isolate the most affected areas in Derna," Interior Ministry spokesman Tareq al-Kharaz told Anadolu on Monday.

He cited possible environmental risks in the wake of the deadly flooding for the measure.

"There are serious warnings of the spread of epidemics due to the decaying of dead corpses and animals,” he said.

Derna was hardest hit by deadly flooding caused by Mediterranean storm Daniel last Sunday, causing the city’s dams to burst, washing away homes and people.

According to the UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA), at least 3,958 people have died across Libya due to flooding, revising its previous death toll of 11,300.

On Saturday, East Libya-based Health Minister Osama Hamad said that 3,252 corpses had been buried so far.

More than 40,000 people have been displaced across Libya’s northeastern areas by the deadly floods, the UN office said.

On Saturday, Haidar al-Sayeh, head of the Tripoli-based National Center for Disease Control, declared a state of emergency for one year in all the eastern regions that were struck by floods.
“Servies in the affected areas are almost zero, so it’s impossible for anyone to live there,” al-Kharaz said.

“The presence of citizens in those areas hinders efforts to search for survivors or to recover the bodies of victims,” he added.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar