Floodwaters submerge part of a community in Tana Delta, cutting off
villages and displacing residents as water levels along the Tana River remain high
/KENYA RED CROSSFloodwaters along the Tana River continue to wreak havoc in parts of Tana River and Lamu counties after water levels at Idsowe Bridge rose to 5.5 metres, cutting off villages and raising fears of downstream flooding risk levels.
The Kenya Red Cross Society said Miliki, Majaliwa and Onido villages in Kipini West, Tana River County, are fully marooned, while Chalaluma village in neighbouring Lamu County has also been cut off by rising waters levels remain.
In a statement on Friday, the humanitarian agency warned that more communities remain at risk as river levels continue to stay dangerously high following sustained flooding along the Tana River basin.
Flooding along the Tana River continues as water levels at Idsowe Bridge remain high at 5.5 metres, increasing downstream pressure, the Red Cross said.
The agency said emergency response teams have intensified operations in the affected areas, with search and rescue teams using boats to reach isolated villages where roads and footpaths have been submerged.
Images shared by the organisation showed rescue personnel navigating the swollen river in motorised boats as muddy floodwaters swallowed farms, vegetation and critical infrastructure.
The floods have also disrupted access to clean water after several water points were submerged, raising concerns over possible outbreaks of waterborne diseases in displacement camps and affected villages.
The Kenya Red Cross said it has so far distributed 143,700 water treatment sachets to affected residents as part of efforts to ensure safe drinking water and prevent infections linked to contaminated floodwater.
Response efforts continue, reaching 2,396 households with shelter and hygiene support, alongside distribution of 143,700 water treatment sachets and support to 10 displacement camps, the agency said.
Relief operations are ongoing across the flooded areas, with displaced families receiving shelter materials, hygiene kits, bedding and emergency household supplies.
The organisation further announced that medical and nutrition outreaches are being planned for hard-to-reach communities that remain inaccessible because of the floods.
The latest flooding has once again exposed the vulnerability of communities living along the Tana River, where heavy rains upstream often trigger devastating overflows that destroy homes, isolate villages and displace thousands of residents.
Authorities and humanitarian agencies have continued monitoring the river levels as fears grow that additional flooding could affect more settlements downstream if water levels continue rising.
A flood-affected resident carries relief supplies at a displacement
camp in Tana River County during ongoing emergency response operations by the
Kenya Red Cross. /KENYA RED CROSS
