Heavy rains to persist as floods wreak havoc

Heavy rains are expected to continue in the East African region for the next few weeks, an American scientific agency has said.

The U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) further revealed that the extremely heavy rainfall experienced in Kenya and neigbouring countries is very unusual.

“NOAA has recorded more than 120 millimeters above their normal rainfall usual levels which is about 625% of their normal rainfall,” VOA reported on Tuesday.

The report noted that though Ethiopia, Southern Sudan, Uganda, northern Tanzania and Kenya usually experience limited rainfall from September to December, the current amount of rain has triggered floods.

Wassila Thiaw, a NOAA meteorologist, averred that winds from the western Indian Ocean contribute to the moisture surplus that trigger extremely heavy rainfall  in the East African region which leads to flooding.

Flash floods have displaced thousands of people and swept away hundreds of livestock, VOA added.

“….We have never seen this much rainfall. It has caused so much destruction. We are circled by water. Houses are destroyed, rivers have overflown. We are moving to the higher ground to save our lives and animals,”said Galma Dabaso, who lives in Walda.

The Kenya Red Cross has since urged everyone to take the necessary precaution-to avoid loss of lives and property.