Devastating Floods Hit Kenya’s Maasai Mara Nature Reserve
NAIROBI — Chaos and destruction have enveloped Kenya’s renowned Maasai Mara nature reserve, with staff and visitors stranded and buildings submerged. The death toll from catastrophic flooding in the country’s southwest has climbed to at least 188 people.
Local authorities have been forced to shut down some tourist facilities in the National Reserve as River Talek, a tributary of the Mara River, overflowed its banks, engulfing more than a dozen riverside tourist lodges and camps.
Social media videos captured the surreal sight of buildings and vehicles submerged within the park, while tourists scrambled to evacuate affected areas.
Weeks of relentless rain and flash flooding have wreaked havoc in Kenya, leaving numerous individuals missing near the capital city of Nairobi and triggering a devastating mudslide in Mai Mahiu.
The death toll from the mudslide has reached 50, as two more bodies were recovered from the site. The government spokesman revised the earlier figure of 71 due to an error, according to Nakuru County governor Susan Kihika.
In response to the escalating crisis in Maasai Mara, camp owners were instructed to vacate affected properties and relocate to higher ground away from River Talek, as announced by Narok County governor Patrick Ole Ntutu.
Local administrators issued stern warnings, threatening legal repercussions for those who remained behind and accusing them of endangering their lives.
“We will forcibly evacuate anyone still in homes or lodges along the river. Their actions are tantamount to attempted suicide,” declared Narok County commissioner Kipkech Lotiatia.
Authorities have dispatched two helicopters to rescue stranded tourists and local personnel in and around the national reserve following distress calls. The flooding, triggered by swollen rivers after days of incessant rainfall, has led to this dire situation.
A tour guide recounted being jolted awake by the sound of rushing water in the early hours of Thursday. He and his companions were forced to seek refuge atop water tanks as floodwaters inundated the area.
The Kenya Red Cross reported rescuing over 90 individuals, with at least 14 camps along River Talek shuttered. Locals have described this year’s flooding as unprecedented in scale.
The country has mobilized troops from the National Youth Service’s Paramilitary Academy to assist in search and rescue efforts in Narok, as mentioned in an official statement.
The Horn of Africa, including Kenya, has been severely impacted by heavy rainfall, with neighboring countries like Tanzania and Burundi also grappling with the aftermath.
“Kenya is grappling with a worsening flood crisis exacerbated by the effects of El Niño and the ongoing long rains season,” stated Jagan Chapagain, CEO of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Human Rights Watch Africa researcher Nyagoah Tut Pur emphasized the urgent need for Kenyan authorities to provide support to affected communities and safeguard populations at high risk in the face of climate change and natural disasters.
