Kenya: Heavy Rains Lead to 194 Deaths

Heavy rains since mid-April have triggered flooding and landslides in Kenya, leaving 194 people dead and 100 000 others displaced.

According to local authorities, two hydroelectric dams are threatening to burst due to high water levels, meaning those who live near downstream reservoirs have been told to evacuate from their homes and seek safety on higher ground.

Approximately 8 000 acres of rice fields have been swept away and pipelines left clogged, while hundreds of thousands of homes have been left submerged underwater. Residents in western Kenya have been forced to carry their personal belongings away on boats and motorbikes.

Additionally, says government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna, the floods are complicating efforts to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, which has killed 26 people in the country.

The Kenyan government is providing food and water to those who have been displaced. It has also requested the health ministry provide them with masks as a precautionary measure.

The rains are expected to continue over the coming weeks.

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