LifestyleFlood havoc in Kenya leaves tourists stranded, hundreds dead, and wildlife at risk
Flood havoc in Kenya leaves tourists stranded, hundreds dead, and wildlife at risk
9:31 PM EDT, May 3, 2024
Recently, Kenya has been grappling with a severe calamity. Torrential rains and floods have forced thousands of people to abandon their homes. Tourists who visited one of the world's most renowned nature reserves, Masai Mara, were climbing trees and waiting for assistance.
The distressing incident for tourists occurred on Wednesday, May 1, when the Talek River overflowed its banks, flooding at least 14 camps in the Masai Mara nature reserve. Consequently, several dozen tourists had to take refuge in trees.
Floods in Kenya
The Kenyan Red Cross has shared in a statement on the X platform that it successfully rescued 36 people by air and another 25 on land. Some areas where tourists stay are still isolated. The floods destroyed huts and tents, sweeping away the tourists' documents and personal belongings. Bridges also suffered damage.
Local authorities, cited by the Kenyan newspaper "The Standard," have suggested that some tourists might face difficulties returning to their countries as the roads to Nairobi are blocked.
Many videos and photos showcasing the current situation in Kenya have emerged on social media.
According to the Kenyan Red Cross, the situation was not limited to tourists in the Masai Mara reserve; volunteers from the organization also rescued a man who had spent five days atop a tree on a farm in Garissa Township County.
Deadly Downpours
Since March, floods and landslides in Kenya have claimed the lives of up to 181 people, with hundreds of thousands being displaced from their homes. Many individuals are still missing.
The most devastating event occurred when a dam burst in a village in the Rift Valley on Monday, leading to the deaths of about 50 residents. Meteorologists have issued warnings that the torrential rains are expected to continue affecting the region in the coming days.
Floods endanger human lives and threaten wildlife, including the inhabitants of the famous reserve. The reserve is home to lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, and hippos.
