Africa
Kenya Floods Death Toll Continues to Rise
Watch as the Kenya Red Cross Garissa team rescues a man who was marooned by floodwaters and atop a tree for five days at a farm in Iftin ward, Garissa Township Sub County.
— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) May 1, 2024
The team has already rescued three others and is currently en route to rescue six more. pic.twitter.com/UzVLVlOIme
The government of Kenya and the Red Cross have reported that more than 180 individuals have lost their lives and thousands have been displaced due to severe flooding and landslides in the country since March.
According to Felix Maiyo, the South Rift Regional Manager of the Kenya Red Cross, two bodies were discovered in Mai Mahiu, where a dam breach resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 48 people.
Government spokesman Isaac Maigua Mwaura confirmed that the death toll has now reached 179, with 15 children among the deceased, and an additional 20 individuals have been reported missing.
The Kenyan Red Cross has conducted evacuations in Talek, Narok, rescuing over 90 individuals, including tourists stranded in various camps due to flooding caused by the Talek River overflowing.. The organization also shared a video of their team in Garissa saving a man stranded on a tree for five days due to floodwaters.
The region has experienced heavy rainfall due to the El Nino phenomenon, leading to fatalities in Tanzania and Burundi as well. The Kenyan government has issued warnings for continued flooding and advised citizens to stay alert to weather updates.
