At least 62 people have died in Kenya as a result of widespread flooding
Heavy rainfall last week caused flash floods the likes of which the country has not seen for many years. As rivers burst their banks, residential buildings were flooded, and roads, power lines and water supply systems were damaged.
In Nairobi, following Saturday’s downpour, some roads had to be closed due to damage to bridges. Water also flooded some schools.
On Sunday, Kenya’s Ministry of Internal Affairs warned that heavy rains were continuing in various regions of the country, meaning the risk of further flooding remains high.
The authorities have urged residents of low-lying areas to move to safer places immediately. Over 2,000 people have already been forced to leave their homes due to the bad weather.
The police stated that search and rescue operations are continuing following “torrential rains and subsequent devastating floods that have affected various parts of the country”.
More than half of all the fatalities – 33 people – were in Nairobi. One of the main reasons cited for these consequences is a poor drainage system, as well as the silting up of rivers caused by haphazard development.
Kenyan President William Ruto stated on Sunday that emergency food supplies and medical aid are already being delivered to those affected. According to him, the authorities are also working to clear blocked drainage systems.
The disaster has not only affected Kenya. In neighbouring Ethiopia, more than 100 people have died as a result of floods and landslides in the south of the country.
Experts note that the causes of flooding can vary, but global warming due to climate change makes extreme rainfall more likely. Since the start of the industrial era, the global average temperature has already risen by approximately 1.1°C, and without a significant reduction in emissions, this trend will continue.
