A devastating landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck western Kenya’s Marakwet East region, resulting in 21 deaths and leaving over 30 people missing.
The disaster occurred on Friday night, and rescue operations were temporarily paused on Saturday evening due to worsening weather conditions.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the deaths and reported that 25 people with serious injuries had been airlifted to hospitals for medical attention.
The Kenyan Red Cross is coordinating rescue efforts, but access to affected areas remains challenging due to mudslides and flash flooding.
The government has urged residents living near seasonal rivers and areas that experienced landslides to relocate to safer grounds. Unfortunately, this region is prone to such disasters, with similar incidents occurring in 2010 and 2012.
Meanwhile, neighboring Uganda has also been affected by flash floods and landslides, with four people killed in a recent mudslide.
The ongoing heavy rainfall has caused widespread destruction of homes, crop fields, and community infrastructure.
