Authorities say 70% of eastern Libya’s infrastructure destroyed

The Tripoli-based unity Libyan government said 70% of the infrastructure in the eastern part of the country was devastated by last week’s floods.

Al-Hussein Swedan, head of the Transport Ministry’s roads and bridges department, stated in a statement that 11 bridges were destroyed by the floods, including two that connected Derna to the cities of Soussa and al-Qubba, as well as six others.

Derna was mostly affected by the fatal flooding brought by Mediterranean Storm Daniel on September 10, which caused the city’s dams to collapse, washing away buildings and thousands of people.

He also reported that 80% of the water pipelines in all eastern towns and villages had been destroyed, and 50% of the roads in the devastated areas had been damaged.

Swedan added, however, that his department was able to open alternate routes in affected areas for easy movement of people and to ease rescue and aid efforts.

According to the UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA), at least 3,958 people have died as a result of flooding in Libya, bringing the previous death toll to 11,300.

More 40,000 people have also been displaced in the disaster that shocked the north African country and indeed the whole world.