The interior ministry of Kenya, on Thursday reported a rise in the death toll from the devastating floods, with 188 people losing their lives due to severe weather conditions.
The ministry also stated that 125 individuals have been injured, 90 are missing, and 165,000 have been displaced as a result of the heavy rains, floods, and landslides.
The deadliest incident occurred when a dam burst near Mai Mahiu in the Rift Valley, claiming the lives ofdozens of villagers. The ministry confirmed that 52 bodies have been recovered, and 51 people are still missing after the dam disaster.
In another harrowing event, nearly 100 tourists were stranded in Kenya’s renowned Maasai Mara wildlife reserve after a river overflowed due to heavy downpours. Fortunately, rescuers managed to evacuate 90 individuals by ground and air, as 19 lodges were flooded following the River Talek overflow.
The impact of the weather has not been limited to Kenya, as neighboring Tanzania has also suffered from flooding and landslides, resulting in at least 155 fatalities.
The heavy rains have been attributed to the El Nino weather pattern, a naturally occurring climate phenomenon associated with increased heat worldwide, leading to drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere.
