At Least 25 Dead In Kenya After Heavy Rain Brings Flash Flooding To Nairobi

NAIROBI — At slightest 25 group person died aft flash flooding successful nan Kenyan superior caused formation disruption and near motorists stranded for hours.

George Seda, nan constabulary main successful Nairobi, said immoderate of nan victims were drowned and others were electrocuted. He warned that nan decease toll whitethorn emergence arsenic hunt and rescue operations continue.

Kenya Airways said that flights were disrupted, pinch immoderate diverted to nan coastal metropolis of Mombasa, and that disruptions would proceed for hours.

The subject was deployed to assistance emergency rescue services, and nan section toll roadworthy usability waived fees for an elevated road.

The dense rainfall began Friday and continued overnight, submerging vehicles and forcing motorists successful immoderate areas to wade done hip-high h2o to scope higher ground.

Seda besides said that much than 100 vehicles were damaged, pinch immoderate overturning connected nan roadside and successful parking bays.

Videos of flooded homes and overturned vehicles were shared connected societal media. Rescue teams pulled retired bodies from vehicles that had been washed away.

President William Ruto said a multi-agency squad had been deployed to support and relocate those successful imminent threat to safer areas arsenic rainfall continues. He said nan authorities would salary infirmary bills for those affected and directed that alleviation nutrient beryllium distributed to affected families.

A subject rescue portion was deployed overnight to support emergency services arsenic Kenya Red Cross consequence units struggled to scope group successful need.

Kenya Red Cross Secretary-General Ahmed Idris said hunt and rescue teams were moving tirelessly to assistance those stranded.

“We are severely constricted by nan postulation and nan business connected what utilized to beryllium roads. We are doing our champion to scope those successful need,” he wrote connected X.

Public Service Minister Geoffrey Ruku said he was coordinating nationalist disaster preparedness, consequence and betterment efforts. He urged Kenyans to beryllium cautious and prioritize their safety.

Some residents blamed nan flooding connected clogged drainage systems, stating that metropolis authorities ought to person prepared by ensuring location was functional drainage infrastructure up of nan rainy season.

One resident, Aisha Bajaber, wrote connected X: “The full metropolis is flooded yet again. How agelong will officials support ignoring nan deficiency of drainage?”

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said nan authorities would guarantee each blocked drainage systems are cleared.

“Nairobi remains a awesome location hub and must beryllium kept clean, safe and well-managed to bespeak its opinionated successful Africa,” he said.

Kenya has faced dense rains since precocious February, which marks nan commencement of nan agelong rainy season.

Previous rainy seasons person seen flooding, landslides and mudslides that person near hundreds of group dormant and displaced thousands.

Musambi writes for nan Associated Press.