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Kenya flood death toll rises to 62 as Nairobi overwhelmed

Heavy rains since March 6 have killed 33 in capital alone, with military and Red Cross struggling to reach submerged communities

Kenya flood death toll rises to 62 as Nairobi overwhelmed
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# Kenya flood death toll rises to 62 as Nairobi overwhelmed

Heavy rains since March 6 have killed 33 in capital alone, with military and Red Cross struggling to reach submerged communities

Kenya's Ministry of Interior confirmed Saturday that 62 people have died in flooding that has overwhelmed Nairobi and surrounding regions since heavy rains began on March 6. The death toll includes eight children, with Nairobi accounting for 33 fatalities—more than half the national total—as the capital's drainage systems collapsed under torrential rainfall.

The floods have displaced approximately 4,845 people and affected 10,000 households across multiple counties. Rescue operations involving military units and Kenya Red Cross teams continue in submerged neighborhoods where the crisis first emerged last week, but authorities warn the death toll will likely increase as search efforts reach areas still underwater.

Casualties spread across five regions

Beyond Nairobi's 33 confirmed deaths, Kenya's Eastern region has reported 17 fatalities, the Rift Valley 7, with Nyanza and Coast regions reporting 2 deaths each and Central Kenya recording 1. The geographic spread indicates the flooding extends far beyond the capital, though Nairobi's dense urban infrastructure and overwhelmed drainage systems have concentrated the human cost.

The Nairobi River overflowed its banks, submerging major transport routes including Mombasa Road and Uhuru Highway. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport experienced flight diversions earlier in the week as water infiltrated facilities. Hospitals, schools, and businesses across multiple districts remain underwater, while rescue teams report finding vehicles swept kilometers from roadways by floodwaters.

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Emergency response ongoing

Rescue operations continue across flood-affected regions, with emergency crews searching submerged areas where vehicles were swept away. Engineers are working to restore power to neighborhoods affected by the South C substation flooding, which caused electrocution deaths and widespread outages across southern Nairobi districts including South B, Langata, and Nairobi West.

The government has deployed multiple agencies to coordinate rescue operations, with the Kenya Red Cross establishing temporary shelters for displaced residents. Authorities continue to warn that the death toll may rise as search efforts reach previously inaccessible areas and the rainy season progresses into its peak months.

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