WASHINGTON 

President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that the US will send emergency funds to relief organizations for floods in Libya. 

The US president offered condolences to those who lost loved ones in the devastating floods.

"In this difficult hour, the United States is sending emergency funds to relief organizations and coordinating with the Libyan authorities and the UN to provide additional support," he said in a statement.

"We join the Libyan people in grieving the loss of too many lives cut short, and send our hope to all those missing loved ones," he added.

The death toll in the eastern city of Derna has soared to 5,300, according to authorities.


Initial reports indicate that dozens of villages and towns were submerged by the floods amid widespread damage to infrastructure.

Libya’s Presidency Council appealed Monday to friendly countries and international aid groups to provide help to flood-stricken areas.