Search Operations Underway as Voi River Bursts Its Banks
The federal government, together with the local authorities of Taita Taveta County, commenced rescue operations on Monday following the flooding caused by the overflow of Voi River.
An unspecified count of households is said to have been carried off by the powerful current of the river.
Taita Taveta County is among the 33 decentralized regions in the nation experiencing the impact of El Nino-induced floods.
As per the Kenya Red Cross’s announcement, they are collaborating with various government bodies to carry out rescue missions, and numerous villages along the river are experiencing the impact.
The overflowing river has caused the displacement of families in Msambweni, Tanzania, Gaza, Shauri Moyo, Marapu, and Mkwachunyi within Taita Taveta County.
Unverified information suggests that a middle-aged woman was carried off and drowned, raising the overall death toll from the incident to eight.
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The presently inundated river consists of multiple streams originating from the Taita Hills.
The river’s water level consistently increases during the rainy season, particularly when there are heavy rains in the Taita Hills. This situation is worsened by the excessive rainfall brought about by the El Nino floods.
Local inhabitants have also received criticism for engaging in widespread sand extraction, resulting in the river being vulnerable to floods due to its exposure.
Typically, the river courses through Tsavo East National Park before ultimately reaching the Indian Ocean via Kilifi County.
The tragedy occurs as the Ministry of Interior is in the final stages of preparing to remove more than 30,000 Kenyan individuals who might face the consequences of flooding.
Some of the regions where the government is planning evacuation include Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Kitui, Machakos, and Garissa counties.
Search Operations Underway as Voi River Bursts Its Banks