In the embattled city of Derna, Libya, rescue operations are desperately in need of additional body bags in the wake of a catastrophic flood that claimed the lives of thousands and swept many out to sea.

International assistance is slowly making its way to the port city following the devastating impact of Storm Daniel, which struck Libya's northern coast on a fateful Saturday night. The loss of life is assessed to be basically as high as 20,000

Derna's Mayor, Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi, urgently called for specialized teams to aid in body recovery, expressing grave concerns about the potential for an epidemic due to the substantial number of bodies trapped beneath debris and in the water. Lutfi al-Misrati, a search team director, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the pressing need for body bags.

Hichem Abu Chkiouat, the Minister of Civil Aviation for the eastern Libyan administration, noted that the sea continued to deposit dozens of bodies. Coastal patrols are tirelessly working to locate washed-up bodies, with many transported to Tobruk for potential identification.

Emad al-Falah, an aid worker from Benghazi, painted a grim picture of the situation, stating, "Bodies are everywhere—inside homes, on the streets, and in the sea. There is no escaping the sight of deceased men, women, and children. Entire families have been lost."

The urgency to bury the deceased to prevent the spread of disease has led to mass burials. Derna's residents have been passionately appealing for a new field hospital, as the town's existing hospitals have been transformed into makeshift morgues.

Rescue teams from Egypt, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Qatar have arrived to provide much-needed assistance, as confirmed by Mayor al-Ghaithi. Turkey is also deploying a ship carrying equipment to establish two field hospitals and is sending 148 medical personnel. The UK has pledged an initial aid package of up to £1 million.

The UN-recognized Government of National Unity, headquartered in Tripoli, announced that 12 countries have dispatched aid and rescue teams to Libya. This aid encompasses rescue and recovery teams, search dogs, field hospitals, medical teams, thermal sensing devices, diving and water suction teams, food supplies, shelter materials, as well as ships and aircraft to support the recovery process.

Mayor Al-Ghaithi estimates the death toll in Derna could range from 18,000 to 20,000, depending on the extent of flooding across various districts.

The victims of this tragic flood include dozens of Egyptian migrants, whose bodies have been transported to Beni Suef, approximately 110km south of Cairo. Concerns are raised about Derna and neighboring Sousse, given their proximity to Italy and Greece, as they may have been hubs for thousands of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean, with many residing in substandard housing near the port.

The disastrous floods in Libya highlight the relationship between a vulnerable state and the climate problem. Due to the devastation of the roads, it has been extremely difficult for aid organizations to access Derna. Egypt has been the main source of helicopters, which have proved crucial for relief operations.

Several areas of the city, particularly in the east, as well as the adjoining coastal town of Sousse and the municipality of al-Sahel are still unreachable to rescuers, according to Mohamed Eljarh, a Libyan journalist traveling to Derna. He called it a "new tragic episode," with several homes buried beneath mud, rubble, and water, with little sign of help in the immediate future.

The emotional toll on survivors is immeasurable. Usama Al Husadi, a 52-year-old driver, continues his relentless search for his wife and five children. Mohamed Mohsen Bujmila, a 41-year-old engineer, mourns the loss of his sister, recounting the discovery and burial of her husband and son. The destruction in Derna fills in as an obvious sign of the significant human misfortune achieved by cataclysmic events.