As many as 20,000 people are feared to have died in floods in Libya, according to a local official.

Catastrophic floods deluged the east of the country on Sunday.

The mayor of port city Derna told Saudi TV News station Al Arabiya he estimated 18,000 to 20,000 died when two dams burst, releasing a tsunami of water as people slept.

His figures are based on the number of communities destroyed by the flood water, he told the channel.

Unrecovered bodies remain under rubble or in the sea, increasing the risk of disease.

Meanwhile, rival governments in Libya have requested international aid.

Stay with us as our team brings you the latest updates and reaction to this crisis.