An enormous aid operation is underway, with President Joe Biden among the world leaders to have pledged support.
But that complex process is made even more difficult by internal conflict and divisions.
The natural disaster comes after years of political and military turmoil in Libya since the downfall of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
Derna was taken by Islamic State fighters in 2014 before a rival Islamist militia, the Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna, took control in 2015.
After a lengthy siege and battle, Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army took control of Derna in 2018, stamping out what was described as the last pocket of resistance to his rule in the east of the country.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
