Floods in Kenyan capital claim 10 lives, causing widespread destruction | World News

Storms and flash floods wreaked havoc in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, turning roads into gushing rivers and swamping homes with waist-high muddy water. At least 10 people lost their lives in the disaster, with many more missing.

The East Africa region has been battered by relentless downpours in recent weeks, with the El Nino weather pattern exacerbating the seasonal rainfall. Across Nairobi, vehicles were stranded in the deluge, and residents in slum areas had to wade through floodwaters to reach safety.

Local police commander Fred Abuga confirmed the recovery of 10 bodies, with others still unaccounted for. The Nairobi county governor’s office estimated that 60,000 people, mostly women and children, have been severely affected by the floods.

The Kenya Met Department issued a warning of “heavy to very heavy” rainfall forecasted in various parts of the country until May. The situation in Nairobi was described as a “city at a standstill,” with Kenya Railways suspending commuter train services and several roads closed due to flooding.

In the midst of the chaos, dramatic rescues were carried out, including saving a five-year-old boy marooned by floods in Machakos County. The Kenya Red Cross and other emergency response teams were on the ground, evacuating families to safety and providing life-saving interventions.

The situation in Nairobi and the surrounding areas remains dire, with calls for national emergency services to be mobilized to prevent further loss of life. The impact of the floods has been devastating, with thousands displaced and a rising death toll across the region.