The Health Ministry of the Government of National Unity (GNU) said in a press conference on Thursday there’s fear of infectious diseases being spread in the storm-ravaged area from contaminated water.
This comes after reports of smell of decomposed bodies spread all over the city center in Derna, according to eyewitnesses speaking to Libya Alahrar TV channel.
The Health Ministry added that a team of inspectors, over 120 ambulances, and over 200 volunteers, had been dispatched to storm-ravaged areas in eastern Libya.
Storm Daniel hit eastern coastal cities, especially Derna, Al-Bayda and Al-Marj, on Saturday. Two dams collapsed in Derna valley, washing away entire neighborhoods and killing entire families. The flood torrent obliterated around a quarter or the Mediterranean city of Derna.
In the meantime, Al-Bayda medical center warned as well of an environmental disaster through infectious diseases from decomposed bodies, calling for providing necessary vaccines for residents and relief volunteers. The center urged everyone in the storm-hit areas to drink bottle water, as running water could be contaminated.
Medical sources also told Libya Alahrar TV that a health disaster was looming if people weren’t evacuated from Derna as soon as possible.
