At least 70 people have died as a result of floods in Kenya. According to government authorities, over 131,000 families were affected by the disaster. On Friday, a terrifying accident occurred on the Kwa Muswii River – rising waters carried away and overturned a truck full of people.
Kenya from mid-March struggles with the effects of downpoursthat hit this part of Africa. Rainfall quickly filled riverbeds and water flooded entire towns and city districts, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.
As Kenyan government spokesman Isaac Maigua Mwaura announced on social media on Friday, the official death toll has increased to 70, and the disaster has affected over 131,000 families. Government sources give a much higher number than charities – according to the Kenyan branch of the Red Cross, 45 people have died so far.
The water carried away the truck
A serious accident occurred on the Kwa Muswii River in Makueni County on Friday. A truck full of passengers tried to cross the river, but the rising waves turned out to be too strong. The vehicle overturned and the people in it fell into the water. According to local broadcaster Citizen TV Kenya, Red Cross rescuers rescued 11 people who were transported to hospital. Five people could not be reached in time.
The downpours were also felt in the country's capital, Nairobi. At Jomo Kenyatta Airport, Kenya's largest airport, the roof of one of the terminals was damaged. Water began to pour into the building and the flights of many carriers were delayed. Water also flooded many poor districts of the city.
Kenya is not the only country affected by the downpours. On Thursday, Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said that at least 155 people died and 236 were injured in the floods. The element damaged over 10,000 houses and devastated agricultural crops and road infrastructure.
Floods in NairobiPAP/EPA/DANIEL IRUNGU
Main photo source: Reuters