This archive report was first published on 24 November 2019.
Heavy rainfall in northwest Kenya has caused widespread flooding and mudslides, resulting in the deaths of at least 36 people, including seven children, as of Saturday, according to the country's Interior Ministry.
The downpour, which began on Friday near the Ugandan border, worsened overnight, causing flooding and mudslides that swept away four bridges and left the worst-affected village, Muino, inaccessible by road.
"More people are marooned and the entire village is at risk of being wiped out by the floods," said John Lonyangapuo, the county's governor, as he waited for a helicopter to transport him to survey the damage.
Eleven of the people killed were in the same house, Lonyangapuo said, adding that more than 500 vehicles were stuck on roads damaged by the landslides. Rescue efforts were underway in the area.
The Kenyan government sent military and police helicopters to help those affected by the floods, but the scope of the disaster was not yet clear, according to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi.
"While rescue and recovery efforts remain the priority, a full assessment into the extent of damage caused continues to be a challenge due to harsh weather conditions," Matiangi said.
Heavy rain in parts of Somalia, South Sudan, and Kenya are expected for four to six more weeks, according to reports.
