Floods Update: Death toll rises to 257, 44 cholera cases reported
The death toll from flood related incidents across the country has risen to 257 after 19 more people died in the last 24 hours.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said that a total of 188 people have been injured while 293,661 people have been affected and 54, 837 households displaced.
Additionally, 61 health facilities have been affected in 11 counties and crops on approximately 9, 816 acres of land have been destroyed.
The Ministry of Health is also on high alert after 44 cholera cases were reported in Tana River and Marsabit Counties.
“The Ministry of Health together with the Kenya Red Cross are conducting medical outreach programmes as well as cholera control and other waterborne diseases in Tana River and Marsabit Counties,” said Mwaura.
Mwaura further stated that search and rescue operations are ongoing to relocate individuals to higher ground and to provide the affected households with medical assistance.
Essential food supplies of rice and beans totaling 1,226,400kg have been distributed to support affected communities in Busia, Homabay, Kisumu, Machakos, Makueni, Tana River, Kilifi, Nakuru, Garissa, Turkana, Isiolo, Migori, Kajiado, Nairobi among others.
Consequently, 30 public health officials have been deployed for a risk assessment of all 167 internally displaced camps.
“The government is therefore, mobilizing resources to address the critical roads sections and to restore safe travel,” Mwaura stated.
“We advise all road users to exercise caution while using the roads especially in Nairobi and urban areas, in Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, and Eastern regions as well as Coast, Central and North Eastern regions where there has been considerable infrastructural damage,” he added.
He warned that flooding is expected in low-lyiong areas and in urban and riparian areas, while landslides may occur in the areas with steep slopes, escarpments and ravines.
Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, Taita Taveta, Kitui, Tana River counties are expected to experience favorable weather of more than 30 degrees Celsius.
