Daijiworld Media Network- Nairobi

Nairobi, Apr 24: At least six people have tragically lost their lives in Nairobi due to flash floods caused by ongoing heavy rains, which have wreaked havoc across several neighborhoods in the Kenyan capital over the past two days.

The Nairobi Police Commander, George Sedah, has warned that the death toll may rise, as rescue teams continue to search for more victims who may have been swept away by the devastating floods. The torrential downpours have left behind a trail of destruction, with homes and properties severely damaged.

Among the victims were a mother and her two children, who died when a boulder collapsed onto their house in the Mathare slums. Authorities believe that the boulder fell due to an overflowing river that weakened the soil beneath the family's home while they were asleep. In the wake of the tragedy, authorities have evacuated residents from areas deemed at risk of similar disasters.

Three other fatalities have been reported, including one person who drowned in the Ngong River at Likoni Bridge in South B, and another body retrieved from the floodwaters along Jogoo Road. In the Mukuru Kwa Reuben slums, individuals were swept away by the surging floodwaters, while in Dandora Phase 5, a young schoolgirl tragically drowned while attempting to cross a flooded tributary of the Nairobi River using a makeshift bridge. A local rescuer who attempted to save the girl also went missing.

As many as 60,000 people are reported to have been affected by the floods, with over 500 residents displaced from their homes. The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that the heavy rains are expected to persist, with thunderstorms and showers forecasted to continue through the weekend.

Local authorities have launched a major flood relief effort, with teams dedicated to unclogging blocked drains to facilitate the drainage of floodwaters. Meanwhile, evacuation efforts are ongoing in areas that remain at risk from flooding and rockfalls.

Governor Johnson Sakaja has urged residents to exercise extreme caution as the rain is expected to continue for the coming days, and efforts to locate the missing flood victims are underway.