Thousands are displaced and 181 have been slain in Kenyan flooding since March as torrential rain destroys residences
The city of Nairobi: The government and the Red Cross reported on Wednesday that at least 181 people have been slain in the devastation caused by the floods in Kenya, with torrential downpours destroying homes, highways, bridges, and other infrastructure throughout the region. Dozens more people were murdered in Burundi and Tanzania, two neighboring countries, while hundreds of thousands in Kenya were compelled to abandon their homes.
The mortality toll in Kenya surpasses that of the flooding that occurred in late 2018 as a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon. Monday’s sudden floods in the central Kenyan hamlet of Mai Mahiu claimed the lives of at least 48 people, and two more were discovered on Wednesday, according to Felix Maiyo, regional manager for the Kenyan Red Cross in the South Rift. Isaac Mwaura, a spokesman for the Kenyan government, reported that the mortality toll had increased from 10 to 179.
Residents of Kitengela, situated at a distance of 20 miles (33 kilometers) from the capital, were rescued by Kenya Red Cross personnel whose dwellings were inundated by floodwaters. Due to detritus and inundation, the national highway authority of Kenya has closed a segment of the highway leading to the city as well as at least three other roads throughout the country.
Global condolences are extended.
Pope Francis expressed his condolences to the people of Kenya during a general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, in response to the catastrophe. “I … wish to express to the people of Kenya my spiritual closeness at this time as severe flooding has tragically taken the lives of many of our brothers and sisters, injured others and caused widespread destruction,” said the president.
On Wednesday, the White House conveyed condolences to the families of the victims and announced that the US Agency for International Development is assisting in response efforts. Karine Jean-Pierre, a spokesperson, stated that the United States continues to monitor the situation and offer resolute support to all those impacted by the flooding.
The president’s office reports that over 190,000 individuals have been compelled to vacate their residences, with 147,000 of them residing in Nairobi, the capital thereof. In the coming days, additional intense precipitation is anticipated in a number of regions across the nation. “We are requesting that those citizens residing in areas prone to landslides vacate,” Kenyan President William Ruto said during a visit to flood survivors in Mai Mahiu.
At least 120 people were murdered by inundation in Kenya at the end of the previous year as a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon. Following the most severe drought in decades, substantial portions of East Africa were showered with precipitation.
Efforts to aid Kenya
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, tourists were airlifted out of the Maasai Mara national reserve in Kenya subsequent to the flooding of over a dozen hotels, lodges, and cabins caused by persistent heavy rainfall that ravaged the nation. Early Wednesday, a watercourse within the Maasai Mara breached its banks, resulting in the submersion of tourist accommodations.
Rescue efforts have reportedly been hampered by a dearth of apparatus to sift through the detritus, according to locals. Two main hydroelectric facilities have reached a “historic high” in water level, prompting the government to advise residents of flood-prone areas to evacuate or be forcibly relocated. As predicted by the Metrology Department, additional precipitation is possible this week.
To prevent future incidents, Kenyan Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki ordered the inspection of all public and private dams and water reservoirs within twenty-four hours, beginning on Monday afternoon. The ministry stated that following the inspection, recommendations regarding evacuations and resettlement would be developed.
