Floods and landslides across Kenya have killed 181 people since March. Hundreds of thousands have been forced to leave their homes, and dozens more were killed in neighbouring Tanzania and Burundi. Torrential rain and floods have destroyed homes, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure across the region.

Kenya: Torrential rain and floods destroy homes, roads & bridges

At least 69 people were killed when a dam burst north of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the governor of the local county told AFP. The dam burst near Mai Mahiu in Nakuru county, washing away houses and cutting off a road, with rescuers digging through debris to find survivors.

Kenya heavy rains: At least 69 killed, intense downpours in East Africa

Scores reported missing as Kenya ravaged by mass flooding. So far, 71 people were killed when a dam burst in Kenya's rift valley region. East Africa has been hit by the worst effects of the El Nino phenomenon which has affected Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi with over 250 deaths reported in a week in all the three nations, and approximately 300,000 people displaced.

Kenya Floods: Dam burst kills over 70 in Kenya's rift valley

At least 45 people were killed when a dam burst North of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the governor of the local county told AFP. The dam burst near Mai Mahiu in Nakuru county, washing away houses and cutting off a road, with rescuers digging through debris to find survivors.

Kenya: At least 45 killed due to heavy rains, floodwaters sweep away houses & cars

Kenya: At least 45 killed in flash flood, over 185,000 displaced

At least 29 people were killed and more than 300,000 people were forced to flee their homes after Somalia was hit by one of the worst floods in decades, said the country’s National Disaster Management Agency, on Wednesday (Nov 8). Rainstorms have been hitting Somalia and its neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia&nbsp;from the beginning of the month, triggering landslides and submerging villages and farms across the countries after they suffered the region’s worst drought in four decades.&nbsp;

<h2>What happened in Somalia?</h2>

“What is going on today is the worst for decades. It is worse than even the 1997 floods,” said Hassan Isse, managing director of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SOMDA), as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

The official also noted that the death toll as well as the number of people displaced is likely to rise further as many people were trapped by floodwaters.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/storm-ciaran-at-least-seven-people-killed-amid-torrential-rains-and-record-winds-654484">Storm Ciaran: At least seven people killed across Europe amid torrential rains and record winds</a>

In addition to the death toll and those displaced at least 850,000 others have been affected, due to the floods, said Mohamed Moalim Abdullahi, chairman of SOMDA, late Tuesday, as per AFP.&nbsp;

At least 2,400 people have been cut off in Luuq town, where the Jubba River burst its banks, said the United Nations. Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, on Wednesday said rescue efforts were being delayed because roads had been cut.&nbsp;

“Inaccessible roads and stuck vehicles are just some of the challenges aid workers in Somalia are grappling with,” said the UN agency in a post on X, adding that they are “racing against time” to rescue 2,400 people trapped by rising flood waters in Luuq, on the road linking the Somalia-Ethiopia border with Baidoa.&nbsp;

“Luuq is surrounded by the river and floods are threatening us. People keep fleeing out of the town. Some are still trapped. Our shops have been washed away,” said Ahmed Nur, a trader in Luuq, as quoted by Reuters.

<h2>Situation in neighbouring countries</h2>

Since the beginning of this month, at least 15 people have been killed after flash flooding in Kenya, while more than 20 people have died and over 12,000 have been forced from their homes in Ethiopia’s Somali region.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-fossil-fuel-production-plans-to-threaten-15-degree-celsius-warming-threshold-un-report-656656">Global fossil fuel production plans threaten 1.5 degree Celsius warming threshold: UN report</a>

Floods in Kenya have also submerged a bridge in Uganda, cutting off a road linking Kampala to oilfields in the northwest, said Kenya Red Cross and Uganda’s road authority.&nbsp;

<h2>El Nino effect</h2>

Countries in the Horn of Africa are considered among the most vulnerable to climate change and are also particularly ill-equipped to cope with the crisis.&nbsp;

This time around, the regional deluge is said to have been caused by the combined effect of two weather phenomena, El Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole, according to Nazanine Moshiri, a climate analyst at the International Crisis Group.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-at-least-15-killed-after-storm-daniel-brings-most-intense-rainstorms-since-1930-634668">Greece: At least 15 killed after Storm Daniel brings ‘most intense’ rainstorms since 1930</a>

Both El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole are climate patterns that impact ocean surface temperatures and cause above-average rainfall. Moshiri also noted that the impact of flooding is much worse as the soil was damaged from an “unprecedented recent drought” and “years of conflict.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

At least 29 people were killed and more than 300,000 people were forced to flee their homes after Somalia was hit by one of the worst floods in decades, said the country’s National Disaster Management Agency, on Wednesday (Nov 8).

At least 29 people were killed and more than 300,000 people were forced to flee their homes after Somalia was hit by one of the worst floods in decades, said the country’s National Disaster Management Agency, on Wednesday (Nov 8). Rainstorms have been hitting Somalia and its neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia from the beginning of the month, triggering landslides and submerging villages and farms across the countries after they suffered the region’s worst drought in four decades. What happened in Somalia? “What is going on today is the worst for decades. It is worse than even the 1997 floods,” said Hassan Isse, managing director of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SOMDA), as quoted by Reuters. The official also noted that the death toll as well as the number of people displaced is likely to rise further as many people were trapped by floodwaters. ALSO READ | Storm Ciaran: At least seven people killed across Europe amid torrential rains and record winds In addition to the death toll and those displaced at least 850,000 others have been affected, due to the floods, said Mohamed Moalim Abdullahi, chairman of SOMDA, late Tuesday, as per AFP. At least 2,400 people have been cut off in Luuq town, where the Jubba River burst its banks, said the United Nations. Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, on Wednesday said rescue efforts were being delayed because roads had been cut. “Inaccessible roads and stuck vehicles are just some of the challenges aid workers in Somalia are grappling with,” said the UN agency in a post on X, adding that they are “racing against time” to rescue 2,400 people trapped by rising flood waters in Luuq, on the road linking the Somalia-Ethiopia border with Baidoa. “Luuq is surrounded by the river and floods are threatening us. People keep fleeing out of the town. Some are still trapped. Our shops have been washed away,” said Ahmed Nur, a trader in Luuq, as quoted by Reuters. Situation in neighbouring countries Since the beginning of this month, at least 15 people have been killed after flash flooding in Kenya, while more than 20 people have died and over 12,000 have been forced from their homes in Ethiopia’s Somali region. ALSO READ | Global fossil fuel production plans threaten 1.5 degree Celsius warming threshold: UN report Floods in Kenya have also submerged a bridge in Uganda, cutting off a road linking Kampala to oilfields in the northwest, said Kenya Red Cross and Uganda’s road authority. El Nino effect Countries in the Horn of Africa are considered among the most vulnerable to climate change and are also particularly ill-equipped to cope with the crisis. This time around, the regional deluge is said to have been caused by the combined effect of two weather phenomena, El Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole, according to Nazanine Moshiri, a climate analyst at the International Crisis Group. ALSO READ | Greece: At least 15 killed after Storm Daniel brings ‘most intense’ rainstorms since 1930 Both El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole are climate patterns that impact ocean surface temperatures and cause above-average rainfall. Moshiri also noted that the impact of flooding is much worse as the soil was damaged from an “unprecedented recent drought” and “years of conflict.” (With inputs from agencies)

Somalia: At least 29 killed, 300,000 displaced after worst floods in decades hit East Africa

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe - In Canada's primary oil-producing province of Alberta, cooler weather on Monday helped firefighters battle extensive wildfires, but the government warned it may be months before all the blazes are put out.

Wildfires in Canada | Wildfires in Russia | Kenya Floods | Floods in DR Congo

Heavy rains lashing East Africa have caused of dozens of deaths, with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kenya-at-least-12-killed-as-landslide-swept-away-homes-264074">29 buried by landslides in Kenya</a>, and 10 people drowned in a river in Tanzania, officials said Saturday.

The landslides and floods come amid weeks of destructive rains and flooding across the wider East African region.

At least 29 people were killed in Kenya when their homes were swept away in landslides during ferocious overnight rainstorms.

Their homes were hit in the early hours of Saturday amid torrential rains in the Pokot region, 350 kilometres (220 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi.

"We are saddened to confirm that 12 people from Tapach and Parua in Pokot South, and 17 from Tamkal in Pokot Central lost their lives," Kenya's Interior Minister Fred Matiang'i said in a statement.

"Our profound sympathies go to the families and friends of those who have been affected."&nbsp;

Army and police helicopters have been sent, Matiang'i said, with efforts delayed because roads had been cut and bridges closed after streams turned into raging torrents.

Two children were pulled out alive from the smashed wreckage of their mud-covered homes, and rescue efforts to dig bodies out of the dirt continued.

"Massive landslides reported in various areas of West Pokot County following heavy downpour," Kenya Red Cross said in a message, adding its emergency response teams had deployed to help.

Extreme weather&nbsp;

In Tanzania, at least 10 people drowned when they were swept away by a torrential river in the far west, in the Sengerema district of Mwanza.

"We think there is a possibility to find more bodies," said Tanzanian Red Cross official Revocatus Kayanda, part of the team who recovered the victims.

Violent downpours have also displaced tens of thousands in Somalia, submerged whole towns in South Sudan and killed dozens in flash floods and landslides in Ethiopia.&nbsp;

Close to a million people in South Sudan alone are affected with growing fears of disease and starvation.

Floods hit East Africa regularly, but scientists say that it has been exacerbated by a powerful climate phenomenon in the Indian Ocean stronger than any seen in years.

The extreme weather is blamed on the Indian Ocean Dipole -- a climate system defined by the difference in sea surface temperature between western and eastern areas of the ocean.

The ocean off East Africa is currently far warmer than usual, resulting in higher evaporation and consequent rain over the continent.

Heavy rains lashing East Africa have caused of dozens of deaths, with 29 buried by landslides in Kenya, and 10 people drowned in a river in Tanzania, officials said Saturday.

Heavy rains lashing East Africa have caused of dozens of deaths, with 29 buried by landslides in Kenya, and 10 people drowned in a river in Tanzania, officials said Saturday. The landslides and floods come amid weeks of destructive rains and flooding across the wider East African region. At least 29 people were killed in Kenya when their homes were swept away in landslides during ferocious overnight rainstorms. Their homes were hit in the early hours of Saturday amid torrential rains in the Pokot region, 350 kilometres (220 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi. "We are saddened to confirm that 12 people from Tapach and Parua in Pokot South, and 17 from Tamkal in Pokot Central lost their lives," Kenya's Interior Minister Fred Matiang'i said in a statement. "Our profound sympathies go to the families and friends of those who have been affected." Army and police helicopters have been sent, Matiang'i said, with efforts delayed because roads had been cut and bridges closed after streams turned into raging torrents. Two children were pulled out alive from the smashed wreckage of their mud-covered homes, and rescue efforts to dig bodies out of the dirt continued. "Massive landslides reported in various areas of West Pokot County following heavy downpour," Kenya Red Cross said in a message, adding its emergency response teams had deployed to help. Extreme weather In Tanzania, at least 10 people drowned when they were swept away by a torrential river in the far west, in the Sengerema district of Mwanza. "We think there is a possibility to find more bodies," said Tanzanian Red Cross official Revocatus Kayanda, part of the team who recovered the victims. Violent downpours have also displaced tens of thousands in Somalia, submerged whole towns in South Sudan and killed dozens in flash floods and landslides in Ethiopia. Close to a million people in South Sudan alone are affected with growing fears of disease and starvation. Floods hit East Africa regularly, but scientists say that it has been exacerbated by a powerful climate phenomenon in the Indian Ocean stronger than any seen in years. The extreme weather is blamed on the Indian Ocean Dipole -- a climate system defined by the difference in sea surface temperature between western and eastern areas of the ocean. The ocean off East Africa is currently far warmer than usual, resulting in higher evaporation and consequent rain over the continent.

East Africa storms kill 39 in Kenya and Tanzania

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