A Libyan living in New Zealand says the scale of the devastation from catastrophic flooding is difficult to comprehend.

Thousands of people have been killed and about 10,000 are still missing in the Libyan city of Derna, following a huge storm that burst dams, swept away buildings and wrecked whole neighbourhoods.

Baha Mabrouk lives in Wellington and told Charlotte Cook he's hearing some awful stories from back home.