Tragedy struck in south-eastern Kenya as seven individuals are feared dead after being swept away by a flooded river. The group, who had just met with First Lady Rachel Ruto in Nairobi, was returning home to Makueni County when they attempted to cross the Muooni River amid intense rain. Despite being warned of the dangerous conditions, they were overtaken by the raging waters and swept away.
Local chief Norman Musyoki revealed that multiple witnesses saw the group stranded on a log in the middle of the flooded river before being overwhelmed and swept away. Efforts to determine the exact number of people in the group are ongoing, but it is confirmed that at least seven individuals were lost to the river. Currently, local authorities and the Kenya Red Cross are leading rescue and recovery efforts for those missing.
The devastating flooding in Kenya, coupled with similar situations in Somalia and Ethiopia, is attributed to the severe El Niño weather phenomenon. The ongoing heavy rains and flooding have led to at least 71 deaths and over 150,000 displacements in Kenya alone. Although 33 of the 47 counties have been affected, Makueni is among the hardest hit.
Unfortunately, despite this devastation, Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently declared that the national government would not fund flood-response efforts. The situation is dire, as the floods have resulted in over 130 deaths across Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, as reported by the aid agency Oxfam.
The causes of flooding are multifaceted, but it is increasingly likely due to extreme rainfall caused by climate change and a warming atmosphere. The situation remains precarious, and rescue and recovery efforts continue. For more information, please visit the original article from BBC News.
