At least 23 people have died after heavy overnight rain triggered flash floods across Nairobi, Kenyan police said on Saturday, as rescue teams continued searching for survivors in the flooded capital.
Torrential downpours late Friday turned major roads into rivers, submerging vehicles, flooding homes and trapping residents across several neighborhoods. Emergency crews, including police, soldiers and volunteers, have been deployed as the scale of the disaster becomes clearer.
The Office of the Inspector General of the National Police Service confirmed that search-and-rescue operations are still ongoing.
“The response teams remain fully deployed, actively responding to distress calls and continuing with search-and-rescue missions.”
Authorities say many victims were swept away by fast-moving floodwaters, while others reportedly died from electrocution caused by damaged power lines during the storm.
The flooding has caused widespread disruption across the Kenyan capital. Dozens of vehicles were washed away or damaged, and several roads were closed after rivers burst their banks. Reports indicate that more than 100 vehicles were affected, with some overturned or submerged in floodwater.
The heavy rain also disrupted transport, including flights at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where some aircraft were diverted to other cities due to poor weather conditions.
Government agencies and the Kenya Red Cross have stepped in to assist affected communities, rescue stranded residents and distribute emergency aid. Officials warn the death toll could still rise as search teams comb rivers and flooded areas.
The disaster comes as East Africa faces increasingly intense rainfall linked to climate variability, raising concerns about urban drainage, flood preparedness and the growing impact of extreme weather on rapidly expanding cities like Nairobi.
Leave a Reply