Floods, Landslides Disrupt Port Operations as Rains Batter Kenya

AFP/APP

Nairobi: Tens of thousands of people across Kenya have been affected by heavy rainfall, flooding, and landslides that have also disrupted cargo operations at the strategic Port of Mombasa, officials said.

The Horn of Africa has experienced intense rainfall in recent weeks linked to the El Nino phenomenon, leaving dozens dead across the region. In Kenya alone, at least 46 people have lost their lives, authorities confirmed.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said at least 80,000 households had been affected, with the number rising daily. He said the government had deployed helicopters and emergency response teams to rescue stranded families and deliver humanitarian assistance.

“This situation has continued to threaten lives,” he said in a statement on Sunday, urging residents to avoid floodwaters and evacuate low-lying areas. He warned that the prolonged rains were expected to continue into the first quarter of next year.

Officials reported that nine people had died in the coastal region since last week. Among them were two passengers in a vehicle belonging to the Kenya Revenue Authority that was swept off a flooded bridge in Kwale County. The interior ministry said a multi-agency team led by the Kenya Coast Guard Service was working to retrieve the bodies.

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The floods and landslides have also disrupted transport infrastructure. Kenya Railways said damage along the cargo rail line between Mombasa and Nairobi had caused unexpected delays in deliveries to the Port of Mombasa.

A landslide along one section of the railway line forced the closure of that segment for freight trains, although limited passenger services continued to operate, the state-owned company said.

Mombasa, Kenya’s second-largest city, serves as a key regional trade hub. Its port and rail network facilitate cargo transport not only within Kenya but also to landlocked neighbouring countries, including Uganda, South Sudan, and Rwanda.

The British charity Save the Children said more than 100 people, including 16 children, had died across Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia due to flash flooding, while over 700,000 had been displaced.

Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian agency Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that the number of people displaced by heavy rains and floods in Somalia had nearly doubled within a week to 649,000.

Authorities across the region continue to monitor the situation as heavy rains persist, raising concerns over further loss of life and economic disruption.