NAIROBI, Kenya: The interior ministry of Kenya reported on Thursday that the death toll from floods in the country has risen to 188, with many regions grappling with heavy rains, floods, and landslides.
The severe weather conditions have caused widespread devastation, destroying roads, bridges, and other vital infrastructure across various parts of the East African nation.
The ministry released a statement revealing that 125 people have been injured, 90 are missing, and a staggering 165,000 individuals have been displaced as a result of the ongoing floods.
In one of the deadliest incidents, numerous villagers lost their lives when a dam burst near Mai Mahiu in the Rift Valley, located approximately 60 kilometers (40 miles) north of the capital city, Nairobi. The ministry confirmed the recovery of 52 bodies, with 51 individuals still missing following the dam disaster.
Additionally, heavy downpours led to the overflowing of a river in Kenya’s renowned Maasai Mara wildlife reserve, leaving nearly 100 tourists stranded. Rescue operations successfully evacuated 90 individuals by both ground and air from the flooded area, where 19 lodges were affected by the overflow of River Talek.
The adverse weather conditions have not only affected Kenya but have also caused havoc in neighboring Tanzania, where at least 155 people have lost their lives due to flooding and landslides.
The intensity of the heavy rains has been exacerbated by the El Nino weather pattern, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon associated with increased heat globally, resulting in drought in some regions and excessive rainfall in others.
