Death Toll From Kenya Floods Climbs to 174 – Reports

MOSCOW, December 20 (Sputnik) – The death toll from severe floods in Kenya, caused by unusually active rains linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon, has climbed to 174 over the past day after six more flood-related deaths were confirmed, Kenyan media reported.

The latest deaths were caused by a landslide in central Kiambu County and a flooding of a gold mine in southwestern Migori County, Kenyan radio Capital FM reported.

The flooding has washed away or marooned many rural homes, displacing thousands of people, while farmland has been submerged and livestock drowned, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.

Some of the hardest hit areas rely on the herding for survival and are still recovering from the worst drought in 40 years. The drought, rains and extreme temperatures are expected to exacerbate the economic situation in the eastern African country, where heavy rainfall is expected to continue until January 2024.