Floods and landslides kill at least 18 people in Kenya | Climate Crisis News

Continued rains are causing floods and landslides in the East African country.

At least 18 people have died in floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in many parts of Kenya.

Police said on Sunday that the landslide occurred in Tharaka Nithi, Elgeyo-Marakwet, and Kiambu districts in the central and eastern regions of the country. They confirmed that 18 lives have been lost in the incident and urged caution during the severe weather.

The mudslides are disrupting “many families, displacing families, and causing significant damage to property and infrastructure”, police said, warning residents in flood-prone or flood-prone areas to be cautious.

It is unclear how many people have fled their homes.

Local media reports show streets in the capital, Nairobi, flooded as cars and pedestrians walk through the streets.

Traders in the Makongeni and Ruai districts of the city staged a protest on Sunday over the damage to roads during the rains, saying it was disrupting their businesses.

Meteorological officials earlier on Friday warned that the rain would cause health problems due to water-borne diseases, as well as damage to crops and fields across the country.

This is the second time in less than two months that parts of Kenya have been hit by deadly floods. In March, floods hit parts of Nairobi, killing at least 37 people.

East Africa is currently experiencing the rainy season from March to May, which usually peaks in early May. However, experts have been warning for a long time that human-caused climate change is increasing the weather in Kenya and other East African countries.

“In all African cities, excess water – especially during monsoons and less during droughts – is causing many problems,” Fruzsina Straus, head of Disaster Risk Reduction for the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), said in a summary last week, adding that “cities must adapt quickly to prevent water loss”.