Friday April 26, 2024 ((rezonodwes.com))–At least 70 people have lost their lives in floods across Kenya, a government spokesperson said on Friday, as authorities ordered further evacuations of people in the areas at risk due to continued heavy rains.
“The official count of fellow Kenyans who have sadly lost their lives due to the flood situation now stands at 70,” Isaac Maigua Mwaura wrote on X, adding that this is “contrary to other figures”.
Earlier on Friday, a truck carrying people in Makueni County in southern Kenya “was swept away by the rushing waters”, according to the Kenya Red Cross, which described it as “a shocking incident”.
More than 13,300 households were displaced during the floods, which destroyed 22 roads and affected 26 schools. The Red Cross says it has rescued 302 people since heavy rains began in March.
This comes as Kenyan President William Ruto announced on Thursday that he had authorized emergency teams to forcibly evacuate residents living along rivers and other affected areas. “Unfortunately, we will have to move some of them even without their consent because otherwise they are putting themselves in danger,” Ruto said.
The president added that he is working with multi-agency teams to “provide adequate support to all those in need and move citizens who are in dangerous areas, susceptible to flooding, away from these areas.”
On Thursday, the Kenya Meteorological Department issued an advisory, explaining that heavy rains will continue in several parts of Kenya, including Nairobi, although the intensity is likely to ease on April 28.
Floods in East Africa also affected Tanzania and Burundi. Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said Thursday that at least 155 people have been killed by flooding in the country.
