At least 62 people have died in Kenya after a week of heavy rainfall triggered devastating floods across the country, authorities said on Sunday. The death toll has risen from 42 reported earlier, and officials fear the number may increase as rains continue.
The capital, Nairobi, has been among the hardest-hit areas. According to the Kenya Red Cross, 11 people were rescued from a minibus trapped in floodwaters overnight, while two children were pulled alive from a submerged house.
The intense rainfall over the past week has caused sudden flooding not seen in several years in Kenya. Rivers have overflowed into residential areas, submerging homes and damaging roads, electricity lines, and water supply systems.
Following heavy downpours on Saturday, several schools in Nairobi were flooded, and some roads were closed after bridges were damaged.
Kenya’s Interior Ministry warned on Sunday that heavy rains are continuing in several parts of the country, increasing the risk of further flooding. Residents living in low-lying areas have been advised to move to safer locations.
More than 2,000 people have already been forced to leave their homes and take shelter in temporary camps.
Police said search and rescue operations are ongoing in different regions affected by the torrential rains and subsequent floods. More than half of the victims—33 people—were residents of Nairobi. Authorities believe unplanned urban development, blocked river channels, and poor drainage systems contributed significantly to the high number of casualties in the capital.
President William Ruto said emergency food supplies and medical assistance are being delivered to affected communities. The government has also begun clearing blocked drainage systems in the city.
The disaster is not limited to Kenya alone. In neighboring Ethiopia, more than 100 people have reportedly died in floods and landslides in the southern region following heavy rains.
