Libyans face agonising choice after surviving catastrophic flooding

Disease threatens city but the way to safety is littered with landmines

Sabrine Ferhat Bellil, who lost her brother, his wife and five of his children when the deadly storm hit Derna, hopes to find the bodies beneath the rubble so they can be buried. Photo: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters

Ahmed Elumami and Ayman al-Warfali

People whose homes were swept away by flooding in Libya a week ago faced the dilemma of whether to stay and risk infection or flee through areas where landmines have been displaced by the torrents.

Thousands of people were killed after two dams above the city of Derna broke on September 10 during a powerful storm, bringing down residential apartment blocks lining a usually dry river bed as people slept. Many bodies have been washed out to sea.

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