Storms, floods kill 26 in Kenya

NAIROBI - Days of heavy rainfall in northern Kenya have left 26 people dead due to flooding, the Daily Nation newspaper reported Monday.

Due to the high number of missing people, officials fear the number of deceased could rise. According to the Red Cross of Kenya, more than 30,000 people have lost their homes due to the rains and flooding.

Especially hard hit has been the region around Lake Turkana, which is normally semi-arid. The Kerio river overflowed its banks, washing away several villages. Many herders have lost their livelihoods after much of their livestock drowned in the flooding.

Additionally, washed-out bridges and roads have made it difficult for assistance to reach those affected by the floods. Kenya’s weather service has warned of continued rainfall through January, bringing with it more floods.

Meteorologists blame the El Nino weather phenomenon for making the region’s rainy season, which normally occurs in October and November, stretch into the winter.