Mayor Abdulmenam Al-Ghaithi has expressed grave concern, projecting a substantial casualty count ranging from 18,000 to 20,000 fatalities due to the extensive devastation in Derna.

The mayor described the city as plunged into a humanitarian crisis following extensive flooding triggered by a severe storm in eastern Libya on Sunday. The situation was further aggravated by the collapse of two dams located in the mountains above Derna.

As rescue teams and anxious relatives persist in their efforts to locate survivors, a distressing report from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies indicates that around 10,000 individuals have been reported missing.

Moreover, the flooding has resulted in over 30,000 people becoming homeless in eastern Libya, particularly impacting Derna, according to the United Nations' International Organization for Migration.

In the backdrop of this tragedy, Libya remains ensnared in a longstanding civil war, with two rival governments competing for control—one situated in the east and the other in the capital, Tripoli, in the west. Diplomatic initiatives aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to this conflict have thus far proven unsuccessful.