On 29 April 2024, a devastating debris flow swept through Mai Mahui in Kenya. The latest reports show that at least 300 people are dead and 84 people are missing. Kenya’s national highways authority says it has closed off sections of the highways leading to the city and at least three other roads across the country are off-limits due to flooding and debris. About 100,000 people have been affected as floods swept almost half of Kenya. This week, the Kenya Red Cross Society said 23 people had been rescued but others were less fortunate and couldn’t be saved.

Tourists were evacuated by helicopter on Wednesday from Kenya’s Maasai Mara Reserve as devastating flooding in the East African nation hit the renowned wildlife sanctuary. About 14 tourist camps were flooded, with tents being swept away. In the process of the rescue mission, more roads and bridges and other critical infrastructure have been swept away and the government has been criticized over slow rescue efforts to help the people get out. At many different shelters for those who are lost by the floods, many people worried about their loved ones still missing and last seen being washed away by the flood. The rain is only going to continue to get worse and the likelihood of flooding and people losing lives more and more is real.

Heavy rainfall triggered the disaster, which lasted for days and is expected to continue. The impacts of Kenya’s most recent rains also may have been worsened by falling on tough, dry soils after years of catastrophic drought, which affected many parts of Kenya, killing livestock and crops and causing widespread hunger. Many different countries have issued their condolences for the people of Kenya’s families and all their businesses and homes being destroyed. The White House continues to offer continued and resolute support to all who have been impacted and they are closely monitoring the situation. At this point Kenya is going to need all the support they can get because the weather there isn’t getting any better.