Kenya flood death toll hits 76

Nairobi, April 27: Seventy six people in Kenya have lost their lives to floods triggered by torrential monsoon downpours since March, the government s...

Nairobi, April 27: Seventy-six people in Kenya have lost their lives to floods triggered by torrential monsoon downpours since March, the government said Saturday, warning residents "to brace for even heavier rainfall".

Kenya and its East African neighbours have been battered by stronger than usual rain in recent weeks, compounded by the El Nino weather pattern.

Flash floods have submerged roads and neighbourhoods, leading to the displacement of more than 130,000 people across 24,000 households, many of them in the capital Nairobi, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said Saturday.

"We deeply regret to announce the tragic loss of an additional six lives in the last 12 hours bringing the total to 76," he said, adding that 29 Kenyans had suffered injuries and 19 been reported missing.

"Nairobi is currently experiencing the highest impact, with a significant death toll of 32 and 16,909 households displaced."