Emmanuel OchayiIn Kenya, torrential rains have left thousands of people homeless and caused extensive damage. Over 120 people have been displaced as a result.
Western Kenya and the Rift Valley have both been impacted by the floods, with the Kamuchiri area suffering the most damage.
“We have so far recovered 42 bodies, which include 17 minors, following the early morning incident where a dam burst its banks in the Kijabe area and rescue and search operations are going on,” police stated at the scene in Mai Mahiu.
According to the Kenyan Red Cross, flash flooding in the area has resulted in the transfer of many individuals to a medical institution. In addition, the group saved 23 lives after a boat overturned in Tana River County; two bodies have been found thus far.
The Interior Ministry of Kenya has stated that it is “deeply concerned by the loss of life and destruction” brought on by the flooding, expressing the government’s worry over the situation. Because of how bad things are, the Education Ministry has decided to delay the reopening of the schools.
Numerous highways and bridges around the country have been wrecked by the floods, which have also seriously damaged the nation’s infrastructure. El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole are the combined causes of the heavier-than-usual rains, according to the UN, with climate change making matters worse.
A representative for the Kenyan Red Cross, Munir Ahmed, called the situation “persistent devastation,” adding that “families are not able to cope.” The group is striving to help individuals impacted, but the scale of the disaster is immense.
To avert more tragedies, the Kenyan government has mandated a 24-hour examination of all public and private water reservoirs. The situation is still terrible as the area continues to be battered by heavy rain.
