Six days on, small groups of civilians, some with just pickaxes, trampled over the boulders and rubble left in the centre of Derna in the wake of Storm Daniel. They set out to try to locate their missing relatives who are included in the more than 10,000 still unaccounted for.
The centre of the eastern Libyan city of Derna is like one big graveyard - a mass of flattened buildings, wrecked lives and upended vehicles amid torn trees.From where I stood, I could see at least three hugeAs we walked through the mountains of rubble, boulders and rocks, we had to keep reminding ourselves these were once people's homes, this was once a street packed with shops and malls. Even the road was non-existent.
They told us they travelled from Tobruk, Misrata and Benghazi to help in what must be a truly awful task. Six days on, they were among several small groups setting out to try to locate their missing relatives who are included in the more than 10,000 still unaccounted for. There were a few groups of soldiers, too - as well as pockets of health workers dressed in blue hospital gowns and wearing masks to save them from the stench of death that hung over this whole area.They carried body bags.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Libya: 'Utter devastation around here' as scale of flood damage in Derna becomes apparentThe collapse of not one but two dams in Derna unleashed a terrible violent water force which upended vehicles, tore down houses and schools.
Read more »
Libya floods: Number of deaths in Derna could reach 20,000, mayor saysThe King has sent a message of condolence to Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Menfi, and said 'I know that my government stands ready to support your needs'.
Read more »
Libya floods: Warning over shortage of body bags as fears of disease rise in DernaThe death toll stands at more than 5,000 in Libya but could rise significantly, while a rescue team is calling for more body bags and warning over the threat of disease spreading.
Read more »
Libya: Derna residents report on the situation in the area as thousands remain missingThe death toll stands at more than 5,000 in Libya but could rise significantly, while a rescue team is calling for more body bags and warning over the threat of disease spreading.
Read more »
Libya floods: People in Derna use bare hands to dig for survivorsAfter years of strife, weak and corrupt governance, corruption and negligence, the Libyan authorities were simply not up to preparing for or coping with a disaster of this magnitude - and it is the Libyan people who've been killed, or left displaced in their thousands.
Read more »
Libya floods: Derna dam collapses after deadly storm sounded like 'explosion after explosion'The sheer numbers of people dead or unaccounted for in the Libyan city of Derna is overwhelming survivors.
Read more »