Garissa: 8 e*******d to safety after floods maroon Qahira Farm
Eight people have been evacuated from the flooded Qahira Farm in Sankuri Ward, Balambala, Garissa County, following heavy rains that marooned the area.
The Kenya Red Cross conducted the evacuation after receiving a distress call, deploying a motorboat to rescue the stranded individuals and transport them to safety.
Qahira farm rescue
"We have managed to evacuate eight people to safety from Qahira Farm in Sankuri Ward, Balambala, Garissa County," the Kenya Red Cross announced.
Following the successful evacuation, the rescue team moved to Najah Farm in Iftin, Garissa Township, after reports emerged of more people stranded due to rising floodwaters.
"The response team is now heading to Najah Farm in Iftin, Garissa Township following reports of other marooned people," the Red Cross stated.
These evacuations come amid widespread flooding across Kenya, with heavy rainfall causing dangerous conditions in multiple regions.
On Friday, 11 people were rescued from Sultan Hamud in Makueni County after a lorry transporting them was swept away by raging waters.
The rescued individuals were taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital for treatment.
Additionally, the Kenya Red Cross rescued 41 people, including 30 adults and 11 children, from Malimo to Laini in Kilifi after they were stranded due to the overflowing River Sabaki.
Advisory
The increased frequency of these incidents comes after the Kenya Meteorological Department issued a weather update indicating that more rainfall is expected in the coming days.
The advisory stated that heavy rains would persist across several parts of the country, including the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, the Highlands West and East of the Rift Valley, the Nairobi area, the Southeast lowlands, the northern region, and the coastal area.
Residents in these areas are urged to remain alert to potential flooding and reduced visibility. The Kenya Meteorological Department cautioned against walking in moving water, taking shelter under trees during storms, or staying in open fields, as these actions increase the risk of accidents, drowning, or lightning strikes.
Residents in landslide-prone areas should exercise extreme caution, and those living near downstream rivers or along seasonal rivers should also be vigilant.
