-
-
-
Loading
Loading
In south-eastern Kenya, at least seven people are feared dead after they were swept away by a flooded river. The group of individuals were sitting on a log in the middle of the river as they attempted to cross, but the floodwaters rose and carried them away. They were returning to their homes in Makueni County after a meeting with First Lady Rachel Ruto in Nairobi. Kenya, along with neighbouring Somalia and Ethiopia, is currently grappling with the worst flooding it has experienced in recent history. Witnesses reported that the Muooni River had flooded after several hours of heavy rain, leaving several people stranded. Despite the dangers, the group decided to attempt crossing the river. The area chief, Norman Musyoki, explained that the river suddenly swelled, sweeping them away as onlookers could only watch helplessly. Authorities are still trying to determine the exact number of people in the group, but witness accounts suggest that at least seven were swept away. The local authorities and the Kenya Red Cross are currently conducting rescue and recovery efforts. These floods are part of the ongoing heavy rains and flooding caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon. So far, they have claimed the lives of at least 71 people in Kenya and displaced over 150,000 individuals, according to the Kenya Red Cross. El Niño is caused by Pacific Ocean warming and is associated with various extreme weather events such as flooding, cyclones, drought, and wildfires. In Kenya, 33 out of 47 counties have been affected, and Makueni has been one of the hardest-hit areas. Despite the widespread devastation, Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has stated that the national government will not fund flood-response efforts. The flooding has killed more than 130 people in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, according to the aid agency Oxfam. While there are multiple factors that contribute to flooding, the warming atmosphere caused by climate change increases the likelihood of extreme rainfall.