Over 500 people rescued in flood-hit Libyan city of Derna

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) - Rescue teams rescued 510 people from under the rubble in the Libyan city of Derna, where devastating floods have left thousands of people dead, a unity government official said on Thursday.

Speaking to Anadolu, Saadeddin Abdul Wakil, undersecretary of the unity government’s Health Ministry, said that search and rescue effort by local and international teams continued as thousands of people are still missing.

Abdul Wakil said that the cities of Soussa, Al-Mekhili, Al-Wardia need “urgent intervention.”

At least 6,000 people have been killed and thousands of others remain missing due to the weekend floods in eastern Libya, according to officials.

Torrential rains swept several regions, most notably the cities of Derna, Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Al-Marj, and Soussa.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi