Floods in Kenya claim at least 42 lives nationwide

Kenya Reports 42 Deaths in Floods Across Country

At least 42 people have died in floods across Kenya since Friday, according to authorities. Heavy rainfall has triggered flash floods in multiple counties, causing widespread disruption and damage.

According to Public Service and Special Programmes Minister Geoffrey Ruku, police have documented 26 deaths in the capital city of Nairobi, with additional fatalities reported in other counties. The floods have also affected several towns, disrupting transport and daily activities.

In Nairobi, floodwaters submerged homes and carried away vehicles as rivers overflowed their banks. Kenya Airways has suspended flights to Nairobi due to the weather conditions, forcing some planes to divert to Mombasa.

Aid workers have been involved in rescuing bodies from floodwaters across the capital. The Kenyan government has deployed a team of emergency responders, including soldiers, to coordinate rescue efforts and provide support to affected communities.

The president has announced that relief food will be released and distributed to families affected by the floods, as well as covering hospital bills for those injured or receiving treatment in public health facilities. Authorities have also stated that hundreds of households in neighboring counties have been impacted, with vast swaths of farmland destroyed.

Climate scientists attribute the worsening floods and droughts in East Africa to global warming, which is concentrating rainfall into shorter, more intense bursts. A recent study found that climate change has made devastating rains in the region twice as likely as before.

Source: Al Jazeera