Death toll from heavy rains in Libya reaches 5,300

At least 5,300 people are thought to be dead, the interior ministry of Libya's eastern government told LANA, the country's state news agency, on Tuesday. "The authorities have buried 2,800 bodies after their families identified them, while 260 unidentified bodies remain in the city's hospital," the ministry spokesman said. According to media reports, assistance and rescue efforts started to reach Derna on Tuesday, more than 36 hours after the disaster hit the coastal city.

The floodwaters had either severely damaged or completely destroyed numerous access roads leading to the city, which is home to approximately 89,000 residents. Some 10,000 are reported missing, Tamer Ramadan, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies delegation in Libya, said during a press conference Tuesday.

The catastrophic event was triggered by a Mediterranean storm that made landfall in eastern Libya on Sunday, resulting in widespread flooding and causing extensive damage to infrastructure along its path. President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed Menfi on Monday called for international assistance.