Kenyan military deployed as East Africa floods kill dozens

Residents sift through the rubble as they recover their belongings after the Nairobi river burst its banks and destroyed their homes within the Mathare Valley settlement in Nairobi, Kenya April 25, 2024. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s military was deployed on Thursday to rescue victims of heavy rains that have killed dozens of people across East Africa over the past month.

Residents sift through the rubble as they recover their belongings after the Nairobi river burst its banks and destroyed their homes within the Mathare Valley settlement in Nairobi, Kenya April 25, 2024. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi

At least 45 people have died in the floods in Kenya since March, including 10 since Monday, the Kenya Red Cross said. Large parts of the capital Nairobi and other major towns are underwater, forcing thousands of residents to leave their homes.

Collins Obondo, 38, lost at least four relatives in the flooding on Wednesday in Nairobi’s densely-populated Mathare neighbourhood, which lies along the Nairobi River.

“The body of my mother’s neighbour was trapped right across here and it seemed as though my cousin held her ankle with her head lodged between her thighs,” he told Reuters as he sifted through the remnants of his mother’s collapsed house.

Residents wade through flood waters as they recover their belongings after the Nairobi river burst its banks within the Mathare valley settlement in Nairobi, Kenya April 24, 2024. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi

In neighbouring Tanzania, the death toll from the rains has reached 155, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa told parliament on Thursday. Hundreds of thousands have had to flee their homes in Burundi.

East Africa was hit by record floods during the last rainy season in late 2023. Scientists say climate change is causing more intense and frequent extreme weather events.

A drone view shows Athi River waters flowing next to the Crystal Park estate following heavy rainfall in Machakos county near Nairobi, Kenya April 24, 2024. REUTERS/Edwin Waita

Kenyan President William Ruto said at a meeting with senior government officials that the military was deploying to help with rescue operations. His deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, said a multi-agency emergency response centre would be activated on Thursday afternoon.

Residents carry a bed they salvaged from flood waters after Athi River burst its banks and marooned their homes following heavy rainfall in Kwa Mang’eli settlement of Machakos county near Nairobi, Kenya April 24, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

Gachagua said above-normal rainfall was forecast for the next week.

(Reporting by George Obulutsa and Edwin Waita; Editing by Aaron Ross and Alex Richardson)