At least 10 people have been confirmed dead in Nairobi after flash floods wreaked havoc in the capital on Friday, March 6.
According to the Nairobi Police Commander, George Seda, eight of the victims were swept away by fast-rising floodwaters. Speaking in a phone interview with Radio Citizen on Saturday, March 7, Seda said police and emergency response teams are still gathering data and responding to emergencies.
Seda further revealed that some people are said to have died while trapped inside their vehicles, caught in raging floods in various parts of the capital.
The other two died in separate electrocution incidents during the floods in different parts of the county.
At the same time, one man is said to have died after his car was swept by floods last night around the Kitengela River. Police have launched a search for his body.
According to Seda, at least 71 vehicles were trapped or stranded across the city after major roads became impassable due to the heavy flooding. He has warned that the death toll could still rise as search teams continue with the search continues for those who are missing and data on the damage from the floods continues to trickle in.
The rains came after the Kenya Met issued several warnings, confirming that heavy rainfall within 24 hours will persist for the next few days.
“Heavy rainfall could trigger flooding, particularly in urban areas with constrained drainage systems,” the department warned, urging residents to avoid crossing flooded roads and drainage channels.
More to follow…