TOURISTS visiting Kenya’s renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve were airlifted to safety on Wednesday as flooding engulfed more than a dozen hotels, lodges, and camps amid relentless heavy rains.
The flooding occurred after a river within the Maasai Mara overflowed its banks early Wednesday, submerging tourist accommodation facilities in the southwestern reserve. Known for its spectacular wildlife and the annual wildebeest migration from the Serengeti in Tanzania, the Maasai Mara is a popular destination for tourists from around the world.
The Kenya Red Cross reported the successful evacuation of 36 people by air and 25 others by land. The Narok County government swiftly deployed two helicopters to conduct rescue operations in the expansive conservation area.
Since the onset of the rainy season in mid-March, Kenya has been grappling with severe flooding and landslides, resulting in over 170 fatalities and widespread destruction of infrastructure. The Meteorology Department has issued warnings of further rainfall expected throughout the week.
Earlier this week, tragedy struck in the Mai Mahiu area of western Kenya when a river breached a clogged tunnel, leading to devastating floods that claimed the lives of 48 people, with over 80 individuals reported missing. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, with President William Ruto ordering the military to join the operation.
However, locals have voiced frustrations over the sluggishness of rescue operations, citing a lack of adequate equipment to clear debris hindering access to affected areas.
With water levels in major hydroelectric dams reaching unprecedented highs, the government has issued urgent advisories for residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate immediately or face mandatory relocation. Authorities are mobilising resources to address the escalating crisis and mitigate further loss of life and property.
