Heavy rains, pounding several parts of Kenya and devastating flash floods, have left 169 people dead, a government official said.
Government Spokesman, Isaac Mwaura, confirmed the death toll on Monday evening.
Mwaura said a dam which burst, on Monday morning, in the western Kenyan town of Mai Mahiu has killed 48 people and affected scores of others.
“We have lost 169 people since the onset of the rains. The government has also intensified search and rescue operations to find missing persons missing,” Mwaura said on national television.
The East African nation is currently experiencing El Nino-induced above-average rainfall.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has said that heavy rainfall will continue this week, with potential for flooding and landslides in some areas.
The recent heavy rainfall has resulted in major flash floods in Nairobi, Makueni, West Pokot and Machakos counties. It also caused loss of life and properties.
Rains have also cut off main roads, disrupted business across the country, and forced the postponement of the reopening of schools by a week from Monday.
The newly set up national multi-agency flood emergency team is implementing a series of measures to assist Kenyans in coping with the effects of the floods.
It also includes the provision of food, safe drinking water, health supplies and rescue efforts, said Mwaura.
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“We always have rains between March and May, but now they are above normal because of climate change,” he said.
He added that all five dams along the Tana River, Kenya’s longest, were at total capacity.
The devastating floods are exacerbating the country’s humanitarian crisis. This is in the wake of El Nino floods in late 2023. The flooding killed at least 178 people, injured 242 and displaced thousands.
Kithure Kindiki, Cabinet Secretary of the Interior and Administration of Kenya’s National Government, on Monday, ordered the inspection of all public and private dams and water reservoirs within 24 hours.
UN’s Commitment to Kenya
As Kenya continues to grapple with heavy rains, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Monday, reiterated the United Nation’s continued commitment to Kenya.
This is in the wake of deadly floods caused by weeks of heavy rains that continue to affect the region.
In a statement, Guterres said he was saddened by loss of life and damages caused by flash floods in Kenya.
He extended condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims, and to the people and government of Kenya.
“The UN team on the ground has been working closely with the Kenyan government and its partners since the heavy rains earlier this year to respond to humanitarian needs,” said his spokesperson. (Xinhua)
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