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36 killed in Kenya landslide after torrential rains

36 killed in Kenya landslide after torrential rains

The downpour began on Friday in West Pokot County, which borders Uganda, and worsened overnight, causing flooding and mudslides that swept away four bridges and left the worst-affected village, Muino, unaccessible by road.”More people are marooned and the entire village is at risk of being wiped out by the floods,” said the county’s governor, John Lonyangapuo  as he waited for a helicopter to transport him to survey the damage.

He added that rescue efforts were under way in the area, where more than 500 vehicles were stuck on roads damaged by the landslides.

Rescue efforts have been delayed because roads have been cut and bridges closed after streams turned into raging torrents.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a statement that he had deployed rescue personnel from various agencies including the army and the police to try to stop the “further loss of lives”.

The landslide came amid weeks of destructive rains and flooding across East Africa.