Kenya orders flood evacuations as it warns dams could spill
The government of Kenya has issued directives for residents residing near 178 dams and reservoirs to evacuate due to ongoing heavy rainfall.
The interior ministry has cautioned that these water bodies are either at full capacity or nearing it, heightening the risk of overflow and posing significant danger to nearby residents.
Residents residing in the vicinity of these dams and reservoirs, as well as those within a 30-meter wetland corridor of the Nairobi River, have been given a 24-hour ultimatum, starting from 18:30 local time on Thursday, to vacate the area.
Recent intense rainfall has led to widespread flooding and landslides across both Kenya and Tanzania. In Kenya alone, official estimates indicate that 188 people have lost their lives since March, with an additional 90 individuals reported as missing. Tanzania has also recorded 155 casualties.
Tragically, approximately 50 people are believed to have perished in Kenyan villages near Mai Mahiu due to a mudslide that occurred while they were asleep. The capital city, Nairobi, has also been significantly impacted by flooding.
Authorities anticipate a further deterioration of the situation in the coming days, particularly with the expected arrival of more extreme weather conditions.
Notably, the coastal region is bracing for Cyclone Hidaya, which is anticipated to bring heavy rainfall, high waves, and strong winds, potentially disrupting marine activities in the Indian Ocean.
According to the Kenyan meteorological department, Nairobi is projected to be one of the areas most severely affected by the impending storms.
The interior ministry has emphasized the gravity of the situation, citing fully saturated soils across the country as a factor that could exacerbate the already dire conditions.
It stressed that the evacuations should not take place at night, but begin from 06:00 on Friday.
The ministry added that it had established temporary shelters, food, and essentials for evacuees, which would be placed at assembly points.
Included in the evacuation were areas near the Nairobi Dam and Titanic Dam. The interior ministry said that buildings within the Nairobi River wetland area would be removed.
It is unclear how many people will be affected by the evacuation order.
The Kenyan government has faced criticism over the speed of its response to the ongoing natural disaster.
Mr Ruto has defended his administration, telling the BBC on Monday that “a whole-of-government approach is under way”.
Following a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Mr Ruto’s office said victims of the floods were “increasingly receiving help with food and non-food items” and attributed the extreme weather to climate change.
“[The] cabinet resolved that the government, from now on, will rally the country in implementing measures, programs and policies that will mitigate the effects of climate change,” it pledged.
One of the biggest drivers of the rains is the Indian Ocean Dipole – opposing areas of warm and cold surface water often refered to as the “Indian Niño” because of its similarity to El Niño in the Pacific.
Warmer surface temperatures caused by climate change pushes more moisture and energy into the atmosphere, making weather patterns more erratic and severe.
