Floods in Kenya claim more lives as hundreds displaced

(24 Apr 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nairobi - 24 April 2024
1. Drone shot of people crowded on a street ++MUTE++
2. Resident crying and wailing
3. People looking into a police truck with a dead body of a flood victim
4. Wide of people looking on
5. Bodies of flood victims being loaded onto police truck
6. Women crying
7. Wide of people around police truck as it leaves the scene with the bodies
8. SOUNDBITE (Swahili) Cynthia Aoko, Mathare Resident:
"Houses have been swept away and people have died. Up to now they have pulled about six people out of the water. The government should come and help us. There is no food, nowhere to sleep and some kids have been swept away. Everything is gone."
9. Various drone shots of flooded areas ++MUTE++
10. Various of people packing their belongings onto vehicles
11. SOUNDBITE (Swahili) Vincent Onyango, Mathare Resident:
"We have never witnessed such a disaster. Houses have been swept away, people have died and others are lost. I say this to the government, there are people who do not know where they will sleep today, what they will eat and there are no shelters. We ask the government to help."
12. Various drone shots of Mathare and Nairobi River ++MUTE++
STORYLINE:
Nairobi residents were grappling in Wednesday with the aftermath of flooding, which has claimed lives, inundated their homes and caused extensive property damage as relentless rain continues to hit Kenya.
In the capital's informal settlement area of Mathare, four bodies were pulled from the water and hauled onto a police truck as residents and friends of victims wailed and mourned their loss.
Many houses have been marooned as Nairobi River broke its banks and residents were seen packing their belongings and moving out of the area.
"Homes have been swept away by floods and people have died," said local resident Cynthia Aoko, who found herself homeless.
Amidst the devastation, many residents find themselves in dire straits, lacking basic necessities.
They lamented the government's absence during their hour of need.
"There are people who do not know where they will sleep today," said Vincent Onyango, a 33 year old father of two.
Deadly floods are wreaking havoc in many parts of East Africa as the region faces torrential rainfall, with Burundi calling for international help to deal with the aftermath.
In Kenya, 35 people have died since mid-March in flooding events that have affected more than 100,000 people, according to the U.N., which cites Red Cross figures in the most recent update.
The Kenyan government agency in charge of roads on Monday warned Nairobi residents to avoid flooded highways, including one to the coastal city of Mombasa.
Those who live by the Nairobi river were urged to move to higher ground.
Flooding and mudslides have also been reported in western Kenya.
In the northern region, a passenger bus was swept away by floodwaters on a bridge earlier in April, with disaster avoided after 51 passengers were rescued.
AP video by Josphat Kasire and Jackson Njehia
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