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| Nairobi has been worst hit by the flooding over the past week (Image: EPA) |
At least 62 people have died in Kenya over the past week after heavy rains caused widespread flooding, the authorities say.
42 were the previous deaths, which were announced a week ago. Overnight, 11 people were rescued after a minibus taxi, known locally as a matatu, got stuck as water rose in the capital Nairobi, according to the Kenya Red Cross, while two children were saved from a flooded house.
The heavy rainfall over the past week has triggered flash floods. Homes have been flooded as a result of rivers burst their banks, causing damage to roads, power lines, and water lines.
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Some roads have been closed after bridges were damaged in Nairobi, while some schools were also flooded after Saturday's downpour.
The interior ministry warned on Sunday that different parts of the country were continuing to experience heavy rains, increasing the risk of flooding.
More than 2,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety as the authorities have urged residents in low-lying areas to move to safer ground. Following the "torrential rain and subsequent devastating flooding affecting various parts of the country," the police state that search-and-rescue operations are continuing. 33 people were killed, more than half of them in Nairobi, where uncontrolled development has clogged rivers and waterways and contributed to poor drainage. Businessman Kareem Hassan Ali, who lives in Nairobi's Parklands neighborhood, told the BBC that there was about 2 meters (6.5 feet) of water outside his apartment block on Saturday night, but that the water had since receded. He claimed that while the cars in the underground parking area were submerged, his apartment was not flooded. Deenesh Patel, an additional Parklands resident, claimed to have stayed the night at a friend's house. I didn't want to take any chances after seeing the warning. Both men urged government officials to do more to improve drainage and halt river-blocking construction. "The rain was heavy but this happens each year," said Patel. "Other low-lying areas were not affected because they have the proper infrastructure."
On Sunday, President William Ruto stated that authorities were working to clear up clogged drainage systems; however, Ali stated that they had not seen anyone and that the Parklands Residents Association had removed the debris on their own. Additionally, Ruto stated that those impacted were receiving medical assistance and emergency food supplies. Not only Kenya has been affected by the flooding. Floods and landslides in the south of Ethiopia have caused more than 100 deaths in neighboring Ethiopia. Flooding is caused by a variety of things, but extreme rainfall is more likely because of a warmer atmosphere brought on by climate change. Since the beginning of the industrial era, the world has already warmed by approximately 1.1 C, and temperatures will continue to rise unless governments worldwide drastically reduce emissions.
Source: BBC
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