Nairobi - Twenty-nine people have died in Kenya due to
flooding, authorities said Thursday, as the country's meteorological
department warned that more heavy rains are expected.
The East African country is experiencing the second of its two annual
rainy seasons, but the rainfall in October has been above average in
most parts of Kenya, James Muhindi of the meteorological department
told dpa.
He said that one area near the border with Ethiopia recorded more
rain in the first 10 days of the month than it would usually see over
the entire rainy season, which typically takes place between October
and December.
Almost 12,000 people have been displaced due to flooding, which has
particularly affected the north and east of Kenya, government
spokesman Cyrus Oguna said in televised remarks.
Video: Kim Kay/African News Agency
The floods have also dealt a blow to key sectors of the country's
economy, such as agriculture. Oguna said that 10,000 livestock
animals have died in the flooding.
The rains are expected to peak in November, according to the
meteorological department.