AGI – The very heavy toll from the floods that have hit Kenya since last March is at least 188 deaths. This is what emerges from the new report from the Ministry of Tourism, released while the torrential rains are still ongoing. Since the start of the rainy season, heavy rainfall, enhanced by the El Nino climate phenomenon, has caused devastating floods, leading to the destruction of roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
The previous government report reported 179 deaths. Furthermore, 125 people were injured and another 90 were missing, while 165,000 people were displaced, we read in a note from the ministry. In particular, dozens of people died in the night between Sunday and Monday when a natural dam in the center of the country collapsed due to excess water pressure. As a result of that single episode, 52 bodies were found but another 51 are still missing near Mai Mahiu in the Rift Valley, about 60 km from the capital Nairobi.
Furthermore, yesterday about a hundred tourists were left stranded due to the flooding of a river in the famous Masai Mara national reserve. Emergency services managed to evacuate 90 people from this reserve known for its rich wildlife. Also in Tanzania, at least 155 people have died due to floods or landslides since the rains began.
The UN Secretary General reiterated the UN’s commitment to supporting the Government of Kenya. “Since the end of last year – declared Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson – heavy rains have had an impact on the lives of 600 thousand people in Kenya”. Humanitarian agencies, he added, have brought aid to around 25 thousand people who are in emergency, but much still needs to be done.
