Almost two weeks following the devastating floods that struck Derna, Libya, the toll on human lives continues to rise, with reports indicating that the number of casualties reached a staggering 3,800 as of this Saturday, September 23.

According to a report from Agence-France Presse, Mohamed Eljarh, the spokesperson for the relief committee, provided grim statistics, confirming that 3,845 individuals have tragically lost their lives due to the catastrophic flooding. This natural disaster has left communities in shock and despair as they grapple with the aftermath of one of the deadliest floods in recent memory.

The scale of this disaster underscores the urgent need for immediate humanitarian aid and support for the affected regions as they strive to recover and rebuild in the face of such immense loss and devastation.

Eljarh sadly noted that regrettably, the number of casualties is expected to continue rising with each passing day.

The current tally does not account for those who were laid to rest by local residents in the initial days following the calamity that unfolded on September 10 to 11, 2023. Authorities are actively compiling records of these unregistered burials, as well as documenting the missing individuals, a number that international aid organizations fear may exceed 10,000.

In parallel, recent reports from the International Organization for Migration, as cited by AFP, reveal that over 43,000 people have been displaced from both the city and the surrounding regions in eastern Libya. This staggering displacement further underscores the extensive human and infrastructural impact of the catastrophic flooding event.