Deadly floods swept through northeastern Libya over the weekend, with the top official in the region warning that the toll could exceed 2,000 dead as rescue teams searched for survivors.
It was not immediately clear what the head of the divided country’s eastern region, Osama Hamad, or the spokesman were basing their numbers on.
But the flooding was centered in the region under Mr. Hamad’s administration.
The internationally recognized government in western Libya, in Tripoli, has not put out figures.
“Entire neighborhoods have been swept away by the sea, and entire neighborhoods have disappeared with their inhabitants,” Mr. Hamad said in a phone interview with the Libyan television channel al-Masar on Monday from the port city of Derna in eastern Libya.
Persons:
Osama Hamad, ” Mr, Hamad
Organizations:
Libyan
Locations:
Libya, Tripoli, Derna