At least 70 people died in floods in Kenya, where thousands of people have also been forced to leave their homes, President William Ruto declared on Saturday, calling the situation an “emergency.”
Kenya and its neighboring countries Somalia and Ethiopia, which are just emerging from their worst drought in four decades, are now experiencing devastating floods caused by rains linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon.
Ruto indicated that the cabinet would hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss the management of the crisis. “Unfortunately, we lost 70 people throughout Kenya due to these rains and some 36,160 families have been displaced so far,” he explained according to the AFP agency.
“Kenya is already soaked,” he said, adding that the Meteorological Department was forecasting more rain, increasing the risk of further flooding. “Therefore, we must prepare for the emergency situation that will occur,” he commented.
Many roads, especially in the north of the country, were washed away, the president said, leaving trucks carrying food, medicine and fuel stranded.
Ruto also said that the army was used to airlift supplies to isolated communities.
Source: Ambito
