The Kenya Red Cross took to their X page on Monday, to disclose that at least fifteen people have lost their lives in Kenya as floods swept away scores of houses and destroyed farmlands following torrential rains.
Apparently, heavy rainfall engulfed the country, especially the bone-dry north, in recent days, and sent water gushing into homes and submerging roads, with similar scenes playing out across other parts of East Africa.
Their statement reads, “As of yesterday, 15,264 households have been affected, with 15 casualties reported. More than 1,000 livestock have died while at least 240 acres (97 hectares) of agricultural farmland have been destroyed,” the Kenya Red Cross said.
Recall that in October, the United Nations Humanitarian Agency predicted that eastern Africa would likely encounter heavier than normal rains over the October-December period due to the El Nino phenomenon.
Worthy to note also is that Kenya’s Meteorological Department warned last week that the heavy rains were “likely to be accompanied by gusty winds”.
“The strong winds may blow off roofs, uproot trees and cause structural damages,” it said.
Images broadcast on local media have shown flood waters inundating entire villages and sending residents fleeing for higher ground.
Footage showed a civilian chopper rescuing people from a lorry marooned in Samburu County, some 300 kilometers (190 miles) north of the capital Nairobi.
