NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Flooding and torrential rains in Kenya have already killed at least 70 people since mid-March, a government spokesman said, double the number recorded earlier this week.
The East African country has already experienced weeks of torrential rain and severe flooding in the capital, Nairobi, as well as western and central regions.
Kenyan government spokesman Isaac Mwaura the day before yesterday refuted claims that hundreds of people died in the floods and said the official figure now stands at 70.
The bodies of five people were recovered the day before yesterday from a river in Makueni county, in the east of the country, following a vehicle they were traveling in was swept off a submerged bridge, local channel Citizen TV reported.
Another 11 people were rescued.
Vice President Rigathi Gachagua told a news conference that the government had set aside 4 billion Kenya shillings ($29 million) for emergency aid, but gave no further details.
More than 130,000 people have been affected, thousands of houses have been washed away and others have been flooded.
Some 64 public schools in the capital were flooded and had to close. Roads and bridges have been damaged or destroyed.
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2024-05-13 22:08:45
