According to the Kenyan Interior Ministry, the death toll in the country has now reached 188 as it grapples with the impact of heavy rains.
Reports from NewsNow indicate that numerous areas in the East African nation have been severely affected by the rains, floods, and landslides, resulting in the destruction of critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
Regrettably, the ministry stated, “As a result of severe weather conditions, the country has recorded 188 fatalities.” Moreover, 125 individuals have been reported as injured, 90 are currently missing, and approximately 165,000 have been displaced.
The most tragic incident occurred when a dam burst near Mai Mahiu in the Rift Valley, resulting in the loss of many lives. The ministry reported that 52 bodies have been recovered while 51 individuals remain unaccounted for following the dam’s failure.
In a separate event, nearly 100 tourists found themselves stranded after a river in Kenya’s renowned Maasai Mara wildlife reserve flooded due to heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
The ministry confirmed the successful evacuation of 90 individuals through ground and air means in the Masai Mara region, where 19 lodges were flooded following the overflow of River Talek.
The adverse weather conditions have also caused extensive damage in neighboring countries in East Africa, with Tanzania reporting at least 155 fatalities due to flooding and landslides.
The intensity of the heavy rains has been exacerbated by the El Nino weather pattern, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon associated with increased global temperatures, resulting in both drought and heavy rainfall in various regions around the world.