In a harrowing aftermath of torrential rains triggering severe flooding and landslides across Kenya, rescue efforts intensified on Tuesday as responders tirelessly dug through mud with shovels in a race against time to retrieve the bodies of victims. The toll of missing persons steadily rose, compounding the tragedy that unfolded.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, the town of Mai Mahiu in central Kenya bore the brunt of the devastation, with at least 48 confirmed fatalities and 84 individuals still unaccounted for following a mudslide and flash floods that struck early on Monday. Eyewitness accounts from survivors painted a grim picture of the calamity, with reports of houses, cars, and even railway tracks being swept away in the deluge.
Anne Gachie, a resident of Mai Mahiu, recounted the terrifying moment when water inundated her home, forcing her family to scramble for safety. Tragically, Tabitha Wanja shared her heart-wrenching loss of eight family members, including her seven-month-old niece, as tears streamed down her face, expressing the profound grief echoing through the community.
The scope of the disaster extends far beyond Mai Mahiu, with at least 169 fatalities reported across Kenya since the onset of heavy rains and flooding last month. The displacement of over 190,000 individuals, including a significant number in the capital Nairobi, underscores the widespread impact of the natural catastrophe.
Addressing the nation, Kenyan President William Ruto urged citizens residing in landslide-prone areas to evacuate, emphasizing the imminent peril to human life. He pledged military assistance in the ongoing search and rescue operations, acknowledging the urgency of the situation.
Beyond Kenya’s borders, neighboring countries such as Tanzania and Burundi grapple with similar tragedies, with heavy downpours claiming lives and displacing hundreds of thousands. Scientists attribute the escalating frequency and intensity of such extreme weather events to climate change, sounding a clarion call for concerted global action.
In Garissa County, eastern Kenya, where recent floods claimed lives and prompted daring rescue missions, authorities reported 16 individuals missing, adding to the grim toll of human suffering. This latest catastrophe comes on the heels of last year’s devastating floods, exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon, following a prolonged drought that ravaged East Africa.
As communities mourn the loss of loved ones and grapple with the immense challenges of rebuilding shattered lives, the specter of climate change looms large, underscoring the urgent need for resilience and adaptation measures to mitigate future disasters.
