Flash floods in the Kenyan capital overnight have killed at least 23 people and caused route changes at the country’s main airport – the largest in East Africa.
The military has been deployed to help after dozens of cars were swept away in Nairobi, leaving some motorists stranded for hours in the capital.
George Seda, Nairobi’s police chief, warned that the death toll could rise.
A man walks on a partially submerged roof after heavy rains flooded a quarry in Kamulu area of Nairobi County. Image: Reuters
Mr Seda said more than 100 vehicles were damaged, some overturned on roadsides and in parking bays.
While Nairobi’s airport was still operating, Kenya Airways said flights were disrupted, some diverted to the coastal city of Mombasa, and that the problems would last for hours.
Heavy rains started on Friday and continued overnight, inundating vehicles and forcing motorists in some areas to wade through hip-high water to reach higher ground.
Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Ahmed Idris said search and rescue teams were working tirelessly to help those trapped.
Members of the Kenya Red Cross gather to search for bodies trapped in vehicle wreckage. Image: Reuters
“We are severely limited by traffic and the condition of back roads. We are trying our best to reach those in need,” he wrote in Ex.
Some residents blamed the flooding on clogged drainage systems, saying city officials should have been prepared by ensuring functional drainage infrastructure was in place before the rainy season.
Shocked resident Cedric Mwanza described watching the Nairobi River burst its banks as “so many cars, filled with so much stuff”.
“Everything just (washed away),” he said.
Image: Reuters
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The country has been battered by heavy rains since late February, marking the start of the long rainy season.
Floods, landslides and mudslides have killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands in previous monsoons.
More rain is expected for the next two weeks, with thunderstorms forecast for Saturday and Monday.
