Libya's Tragedy : 11,300 Dead, 10,100 Missing

The death toll in Libya's coastal city of Derna has reached a staggering 11,300 as rescue operations persist following a massive flood caused by the breach of two dams during heavy rains, according to the Libyan Red Crescent. 

The Associated Press reports an additional 10,100 people are unaccounted for in this Mediterranean city. Previously, health authorities had estimated the death toll in Derna at 5,500. The destructive storm has also claimed approximately 170 lives in other parts of the country.

Derna's Mayor, Abdel-Moneim al-Ghaithi, has expressed concerns that the final toll could tragically climb to 20,000 due to the extensive damage to numerous neighborhoods.

 Earlier this week, Deputy Mayor Ahmed Madroud revealed that the dams had not received proper maintenance since 2002, highlighting the factors contributing to this catastrophe.

The scale of this disaster is immense, making access to many areas nearly impossible.

 Countless regions have been left in ruins, with numerous bodies still buried beneath debris or carried away into the sea. In response, the World Health Organization and various aid organizations are urgently urging Libyan authorities to refrain from mass burials of flood victims.

_{Source: BBC, AP}