Libya evacuates flooded city as searchers look for 10K missing; death toll passes 11,000

The unusual flooding and Libya's political chaos contributed to the enormous toll

Libyan authorities evacuated residents from an inundated city Friday and limited access to it, as searchers dug through mud and hollowed-out buildings for 10,000 people missing and feared dead in flooding that has already killed more than 11,000.

Authorities warned that disease and explosives shifted by the waters could claim yet more lives.

Two dams collapsed in exceptionally heavy rains from Mediterranean storm Daniel early Monday, sending a wall of water several meters (feet) high gushing down a valley that cuts through the city of Derna.

The unusual flooding and Libya's political chaos contributed to the enormous toll.

The oil-rich state has been split since 2014 between rival governments in the east and west backed by various militia forces and international patrons.

The disaster has brought rare unity, as government agencies across Libya's divide rushed to help the affected areas. But relief efforts have been slowed by the destruction after several bridges that connect the city were destroyed.