Libya has been in political chaos since long-serving ruler Col Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011.
His death left the nation effectively split with an interim, internationally recognised government operating from the capital (Tripoli) and another one not internationally recognised in the east.
According to Libyan journalist Abdulkader Assad, this is hampering rescue efforts.
“There are no rescue teams, there are no trained rescuers in Libya. Everything over the last 12 years was about war,” Assad told the BBC.
“There are two governments in Libya… and that is actually slowing down the help that is coming to Libya because it’s a little bit confusing. You have people who are pledging help but the help is not coming,” he said.