Monday, November 13, 2006
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MOMBASA, Kenya, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Ten people have died and 60,000 have been forced from their homes after heavy rains in Kenya's southeastern coastal region caused massive flooding, government officials said on Monday.
"The situation has been difficult for several days now. So far, five people have died in Kwale and another five in Kilifi," Tourism Minister Morris Dzoro, whose constituency is in the area, told Reuters.
Many students sitting their national high school exams have been cut off from their schools and examination centres because of the floods.
"The floods are yet to subside and life is difficult in the affected areas. We are using one chopper to transport food, examinations and students," Dzoro said.
Fearing landslides, many in Kwale district have moved to higher ground while in Kilifi district, major roads have been blocked due to weeks of downpours.
"We have 60,000 people stranded on higher ground and (major) roads are still inaccessible," Coast Provincial Commissioner, Ernest Munyi, told Reuters.
"We are appealing for help in terms of food, medical attention and transportation. The government continues to mobilise available resources to get help to the affected," he added.
Heavy rains have been pounding the region, bringing misery and death in parts of Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan and Eritrea.
Source: Reuters, Nov 13, 2006