Nairobi.- At least 18 people died this weekend in Kenya after a series of torrential rains, floods and landslides, the Kenyan Police reported this Sunday.
The country’s National Police Service confirmed on its social media account X the “loss of 18 lives as a result of these incidents, which underscores the “danger” of the current weather conditions.
“Landslides have occurred in Tharaka Nithi (central), Elgeyo-Marakwet (west), and Kiambu (central) counties, severely affecting numerous families, forcing the displacement of their inhabitants, and causing significant damage to property and infrastructure,” he added in the statement.
Search and Rescue Operations
While authorities conduct search and rescue operations, as well as the provision of emergency aid, they asked the population to “take extreme precautions” in the face of the “growing risk of disasters” in several regions.
“Constant cooperation between citizens and response agencies will be essential to prevent more victims and ensure the safety of the community,” the Police emphasized.
On Friday night, the Police had already confirmed the death of at least ten people, seven of them in the Eastern region, due to heavy rainfall that continued throughout Saturday.
The Kenyan Meteorological Department warned of heavy rains and thunderstorms between May 1st and 3rd, which will particularly affect the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria basin, the coast, and the northeastern regions, especially in the afternoon and evening.
In addition, it warned of wind gusts of about 46 kilometers per hour.
The recent spate of torrential rains and floods, which occurred between mid-February and March, caused the saturation of drainage systems and left at least 110 dead, of which 37 were reported in Nairobi, according to data from the Kenyan Ministry of Interior.
