Thousands have died in the horrific flood (Image: Getty)

       Libya was struck by a devastating flood this week, wiping out a huge chunk of a city and leaving thousands dead - with the death toll continuing to rise.

       Tens of thousands have been injured, gone missing or been displaced by the crushing waters - with an estimated 5,300 dead so far. There are fears that the death toll could end up topping 20,000.

       Storm Daniel has left a trail of devastation through the coastal city of Derna, on the eastern shores of the country.

       Two dams upstream from the city burst under pressure from the rising water as an emergency appeal is launched to save the lives of the thousands left without food or shelter.

       After entire neighbourhoods were swept into the see, Express.co.uk looks at what we know so far about the brutal floods.

       READ MORE Devastating before and after pictures from Libya show a city swept to sea

       A record level of rain

       Storm Daniel brought with it more than 400mm of rain to parts of the north-east coast within a 24-hour period.

       The region usually sees just 1.5mm throughout the whole of September - making the total rainfall vastly more than usual.

       According to Libya's National Meteorological Centre, the amount makes up a new record.

       The rain also quickly ran off, rather than being absorbed by the hard dry ground, exacerbating the issue.

       Entire neighbourhoods were destroyed by the water (Image: Getty)

       A huge amount of water built up behind the dams (Image: Getty)

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       The dams could not withstand the amount of water

       There are two dams near the city of Derna - one 12km upstream, and the other on the southern edge of the city.

       The structures were unable to contend with the sheer amount of water.

       Residents in the city reported hearing massive explosions - which were later revealed to be the dams collapsing.

       The rain was released in a flash flood down Wadi Derna, a river that runs through the inland mountains, through the city and out into the Mediterranean.

       Humanitarian workers are doing what they can to support the thousands of displaced people (Image: Getty)

       Prof Liz Stephens, an expert in climate risks and resilience at Reading University in the UK, said: "The dams would have held back the water initially, with their failure potentially releasing all the water in one go.

       "The debris caught up in the floodwaters would have added to the destructive power."

       Having gathered behind the dams, the water could have weighed an estimated 1.5 million tonnes barrelling towards the city.

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       The local infrastructure was not prepared for the floods

       A research paper published last year warned of possibility of a devastating flood due to the maintenance needed on the dams.

       The report, by civil engineering expert Abdelwanees AR Ashoor from Libya's University of Omar Al-Mukhtar, said that "the current situation in the Derna valley basin requires officials to take immediate measures," including "regular maintenance of the existing dams".

       The report added: "In the event of a huge flood, the result will be disastrous for the residents of the valley and the city."

       But Libya has been wracked by years of instability following the overthrow of autocratic leader Muammar Gaddafi in a coup in 2011, leaving its infrastructure vulnerable.

       The Wadi Derna runs directly through the city (Image: Getty)

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       The result has been utterly devastating for Derna

       Entire neighbourhoods were washed away and thousands of lives lost in the flood, adding to existing humanitarian issues in the country.

       Jean-Michel Grand, Executive Director of Action Against Hunger UK, told Express.co.uk: "Our teams in Libya are supporting the local Libyan Red Crescent with the distribution of food packages, hygiene kits and other essential items.

       "Before the floods, more than 1.5 million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance due to the complex and fragile political crisis facing the country. The recent catastrophe will further increase Libya’s humanitarian needs."

       Libyan journalist Johr Ali, who has spoken to survivors in the city, told the BBC: "People are hearing the cries of babies underground, they don't know how to get to them.

       "People are using shovels to get the bodies from underneath the ground, they are using their own hands. They all say it's like doomsday."

       The floods are the most fatal environmental disaster in Libya's modern history. They also impacted other areas, including the town of Bayda, where around 50 people were reported dead.

       Libyan journalist Johr Ali, who has spoken to survivors in the city, told the BBC: "People are hearing the cries of babies underground, they don't know how to get to them.

       Libyan journalist Johr Ali, who has spoken to survivors in the city, told the BBC: "People are hearing the cries of babies underground, they don't know how to get to them.

       "People are using shovels to get the bodies from underneath the ground, they are using their own hands. They all say it's like doomsday."

       "People are using shovels to get the bodies from underneath the ground, they are using their own hands. They all say it's like doomsday."

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