[NBCnews] At least 11,300 are now believed to have died after torrents of water ripped through eastern Libya — a devastating toll that could largely have been avoided, global officials said Thursday.
Marie el-Drese, secretary general of The Libyan Red Crescent, told The Associated Press by phone that a further 10,100 had been reported missing in the ruined city of Derna. Earlier, city officials said the death toll could reach 20,000.
Two inadequately maintained dams broke, unleashing torrents. The World Meteorology Org issued weather and flood watches 2 days before flooding. As the dams were beginning to collapse there was still time to issue warnings to citizens, but that doesn't seem to have been done. |