Kenya: Heavy rains leave at least 21 dead as of March 19 /update 2

Event

As of Monday, March 19, heavy rains had left at least 21 people dead in Kenya since Wednesday, March 14. Specifically, at least 15 people had been killed, dozens of others injured, and hundreds displaced by heavy rainfall and consequent flooding across Kenya as of Friday, March 16; continued heavy rains killed at least six more people on Saturday, March 17, and Sunday, March 18. Significant material damages were also reported in affected areas from the flooding, including to bridges and buildings; resulting transportation disruptions were reported along roads in affected areas. Among the areas most acutely affected by the rains are Nairobi, Mount Kenya, and parts of the coastal, eastern, and northeastern regions.

According to the Kenya Meteorological Department, continued rainfall is forecast through Tuesday, March 20, across most of Kenya; rainfall is forecast to continue through Wednesday, March 21, in the Lake Victoria basin, the highlands west of the Rift Valley, and the Central and South Rift Valley (including the counties of Siaya, Kisumu, and Homa Bay, among others), the northeastern region (including the counties of Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, and Isiolo), southeastern region (including the counties of Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Kajiado, and Taita Taveta), and the central highlands area (including Nairobi, among other areas), before tapering off later in the week. Consequent flooding is possible in these regions, as well as associated transportation disruptions and infrastructural damage, in the coming days.

Context

Kenya typically experiences a rainy season beginning in late April and lasting until early June. Meteorologists believe that the early arrival of the rains this year is the result of the Madden-Julian Oscillation, an eastward-moving low-pressure system that carries clouds and rain around tropical regions over a 30- to 60-day period. The flooding in Nairobi was also made worse by the state of the city's insufficient drainage system, under increasing pressure due to urbanization and population growth.

Advice

Individuals present in affected areas are advised to keep abreast of the situation, avoid areas directly hit by flooding, and adhere to any orders issued by the local authorities (e.g. evacuation orders). Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult - and that floodwater may contain wastewater or chemical products; all items having come into contact with the water should be disinfected and all foodstuffs discarded. Be aware that the risk of contracting water- and mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria, chikungunya, dengue fever, yellow fever, and the Zika virus, tends to rise after periods of heavy rains.