Floods in Kenya kill at least 50 people

NAIROBI – At least 50 people have drowned and up to 38 000 others affected by flooding, including 10 000 forced to flee their homes, since heavy rains started pounding Kenya early in April, police and aid officials said here yesterday.

“Since heavy rains started in early April, at least 50 people have been drowned or died in incidents related to floods across the country,” police spokesman Jasper Ombati told AFP. “The latest incident happened in Lugari district in western Kenya where two people drowned this week,” Ombati said.Kenya’s Red Cross Society (KRCS), which has been co-ordinating relief, said that the floods had affected up to 38 000 people.”We can say that more than 10 000 people have been physically displaced from their homes while another 28 000 have been affected by the floods, mostly in Nyando, Rachuonyo and Migori districts” in western Kenya, KRCS head of disaster response, Farid Abdulkadir, told AFP.The meteorological department has repeatedly warned that the country would see heavier than usual rainfall during the April-May wet season.- Nampa-AFP”The latest incident happened in Lugari district in western Kenya where two people drowned this week,” Ombati said.Kenya’s Red Cross Society (KRCS), which has been co-ordinating relief, said that the floods had affected up to 38 000 people.”We can say that more than 10 000 people have been physically displaced from their homes while another 28 000 have been affected by the floods, mostly in Nyando, Rachuonyo and Migori districts” in western Kenya, KRCS head of disaster response, Farid Abdulkadir, told AFP.The meteorological department has repeatedly warned that the country would see heavier than usual rainfall during the April-May wet season.- Nampa-AFP