6 rescued in Utawala after pickup is swept by floods
Six people have been rescued in Utawala, Nairobi County after the pickup truck they were in was swept away by floods.
The Kenya Red Cross, in coordination with the Nairobi County Government and local community members, conducted the successful rescue operation.
Utawala raging waters
"Six people have been rescued after a pickup truck ferrying people was swept away by raging waters at Benedicta in Utawala, Nairobi County," the Red Cross announced.
Rescued in Utawala pic.twitter.com/xS8IWvZPsd— Aurelio (@MhandisiVin) April 27, 2024
The rescue operation comes after a similar effort in Tana River County, where the Red Cross saved 24 people who were trapped by floodwaters and unable to reach safety.
24 more individuals from Balambala and Garissa Township Sub Counties were rescued and taken to safer areas.
In Nairobi, the Red Cross has set up an evacuation center at Huruma Grounds to provide temporary shelter for families from Mathare and surrounding areas affected by the ongoing heavy rains and flooding.
This initiative is being replicated in various parts of Nairobi to ensure that those in need of shelter have access to it.
The Red Cross has also been distributing non-food items like kitchen sets, sleeping mats, blankets, soaps, and other essentials to informal settlements affected by flooding in Nairobi.
This support aims to assist those who have lost their homes or belongings due to the severe weather conditions.
On Saturday afternoon, the Kenyan government announced that over 131,450 people have been displaced by the ongoing floods across the country.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura confirmed that more than 24,000 households have been affected by the flood crisis, which has hit several counties.
To address the displacement, the government and its humanitarian partners, including the Red Cross, have established 50 camps across the country.
The government said it is identifying higher grounds to temporarily house the displaced, with a special advisory for people living in flood-prone or riparian areas to seek safer locations.
Mwaura also announced that 76 people have lost their lives due to the floods since the rains began on March 1, 2024, with 29 people injured and 19 missing.
Nairobi has been heavily impacted, with 32 deaths and 16,909 households displaced. The Kenya Coast Guard, National Police Service, and Kenya Defense Forces are collaborating to enhance search and rescue operations.
Flooding has also disrupted public infrastructure, with several roads affected across the country. Key affected routes include sections of the Modogashe-Habaswein Road, Modika-Dadaab Road, North Horr-Kalacha Road, Namanga-Amboseli Road, Isinya-Konza Road, Kamukuru-Elnagata Road, Elnagata-Kajiado Road, and Oltepesi-Magadi Road.
Overflowing dams
The government warns that several dams in the Seven Forks area are at full capacity, with a high likelihood of overflowing in the next 24 hours. Residents near these dams are advised to move to higher ground to avoid potential risks.
The ongoing flood crisis poses a risk of water-borne diseases. The Ministry of Health has activated a National Public Health Emergency Operation Centre at Kenyatta National Hospital to address potential health risks. The government has also initiated the distribution of food and non-food items to affected areas, deploying boats to assist with rescue operations and transportation in regions where roads are impassable.
