Severe flooding triggered by days of heavy rainfall has forced the evacuation of tourists and staff from the Maasai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya, as authorities grapple with the rising impact of the storms across the country. According to Marc Goss, CEO of the Mara Elephant Project, several camps in the reserve were cleared after key rivers overflowed. “A few days ago the Mara River and the Talek River burst their banks, prompting many tourists and camp staff to evacuate the camps,” he said. Some visitors and workers were airlifted to safety as access roads became impassable.
Officials say most visitors had already left the park before the heaviest downpours began. However, the flooding has caused widespread disruption in several parts of the country. Local media reported that at least 42 people have died, with many of the fatalities occurring in the capital, Nairobi. Nairobi Police Chief George Seda said victims died from drowning and electrocution as floodwaters swept through neighborhoods. Search and rescue teams are still combing affected areas, and authorities warn the death toll could rise as operations continue.
The intense rainfall began on Friday and continued overnight, submerging vehicles and forcing motorists in some areas to wade through waist-deep water to reach higher ground. The downpours are part of Kenya’s annual “long rains” season, which typically starts in late February. In recent years, Kenya’s rainy seasons have frequently triggered flooding, landslides and mudslides, killing hundreds of people and displacing thousands more across the country.
