Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, finds itself submerged as torrential rains wreak havoc, turning roads into rivers and leaving entire neighborhoods inundated. According to a top official, the flooding has reached “extreme levels,” painting a grim picture of the unfolding crisis.
The deluge of heavy rain across Kenya has resulted in widespread devastation, claiming the lives of at least 32 people and displacing over 40,000 others from their homes, as reported by the UN. Edwin Sifuna, overseeing Nairobi county, shared footage revealing the dire situation, with residents stranded on the roofs of their flooded homes.
In Nairobi and surrounding areas, hundreds find themselves marooned by floodwaters, with reports emerging of residents in Mathare slum forced to seek refuge on rooftops overnight. Major highways have succumbed to the deluge, leading to extensive traffic jams and bringing the city to a standstill.
Amidst the chaos, a heart-wrenching rescue unfolded as a five-year-old boy, left stranded by the floodwaters in Yatta, south of Nairobi, was airlifted to safety by a police helicopter on Tuesday. The Kenya Red Cross confirmed the child’s rescue, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Beyond Kenya’s borders, wider East Africa grapples with the devastating impact of heavy rainfall. In Burundi, nearly 100,000 people have been displaced, while Tanzania mourns the loss of at least 58 lives. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), a significant weather phenomenon, emerges as a key factor driving the relentless downpours.
