At least 71 people have been confirmed dead after heavy rains and flooding wreaked havoc in Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa.
While Kenya has reported at least 13 fatalities from flooding, Tanzania has recorded 58 deaths in the past two weeks alone. Apart from claiming lives, flooding has displaced thousands of people in the two countries. Infrastructure has been severely damaged, exacerbating the crisis.
In Kakola Ombaka, Kenya, residents like Juliana Atieno Ochieng and Duncan Onyango have continued to recount the tragic toll of the floods on their lives. Ochieng, who lost her leg due to an injury sustained during the 2019 floods, remains immobilized by the waters that continue to inundate her home. Onyango has suffered substantial livestock and property losses, with his house destroyed five times by the relentless floods.
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Assistant Chief Augustine Neto Awich reports that 646 households have been displaced in Kakola Ombaka, with hundreds seeking refuge in evacuation centers or with relatives on higher ground.
Authorities are now urging residents in flood-prone areas to relocate as the rains persist. The Kenyan meteorological department had issued warnings about the impending heavy rainfall, urging preparedness for potential floods.
As the region braces for further rainfall, the plight of those affected by the floods underscores the urgent need for coordinated disaster response efforts to mitigate the impact on vulnerable communities.
Story was adapted from Africanews.
