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Floods leave trail of destruction at the Coast

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  • Floods leave trail of destruction at the Coast

    Floods leave trail of destruction at the Coast
    http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143961032


    The heavy rainfall that has continued to pound Coast Province has caused extensive flooding, displacing more than 50,000 people in Kwale District and leaving a trail of destruction on roads.

    There are fears that some 200,000 people could be affected if the rains do not subside. The deluge has been continuous in the last five days, leaving faces of hopelessness, despair and destruction in the district.


    Crucial roads linking Kenya and Tanzania have collapsed, leaving tourists and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination delayed.


    The flow of tourists to the South Coast has been seriously affected after Ramisi River broke its banks under the floods.


    Transport companies plying the Mombasa-Tanga route through Vanga have incurred heavy losses after several bridges on the route collapsed.


    Of serious concern was the outbreak of cholera which medical experts are now assuring has been contained.


    The Provincial Administration and two Kwale MPs have appealed for urgent relief food and tents for the displaced.


    Examination papers had to be airlifted


    Kwale District Commissioner Mr Moffat Kangi, Msambweni MP Mr Juma Abdallah Ngozi and his Kinango counterpart Mr Gonzi Rai said the displaced residents were starving as their homes and food had been washed away.


    Kangi expressed fear that the number of flood victims could rise to 200,000 if the situation is not checked. The road linking the port of Mombasa and Tanzania has been rendered impassable.


    Bridges that have collapsed include Marenje, Jua Kali and Perani near Lunga Lunga border town, all on the Mombasa-Lunga Lunga highway.


    Those transporting goods to Tanzania now use the Voi-Taveta road. National examinations have also been affected and papers had to be airlifted to some schools in Kinango and Msambweni constituencies.


    A Kenya Wildlife Service helicopter that has been shuttling between locations in Kwale will on Monday airlift students from Ndavaya Secondary School to Kinango, where they will sit their examinations. Floods have marooned their school and it is inaccessible by land.


    Lorries transporting goods to Tanzania from Mombasa were stranded at different points on the road to Lunga Lunga.


    Buses that ply between Mombasa, Tanga and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania had stopped operations, inconveniencing hundreds of travellers to and from Tanzania.


    Danger of a water borne disease outbreak


    The Shirikisho Party of Kenya (SPK) urged the Government to declare the floods a disaster. Party chairman and presidential aspirant Mr Mashenga Wa Mwachofi, told The Standard that the floods had caused a lot of damage.


    "We are now talking of an entire road network that connects Kenya and Tanzania being impassable and thousands of people homeless," he said.


    He asked the Government to immediately deploy the military to erect temporary bridges so that traffic between Mombasa and Lunga Lunga could resume.


    Mr Mbwana Mwakisua, an SPK activist in Msambweni, said in a separate interview that there was danger of a water borne disease outbreak.


    Mwakisua, who is a doctor, alleged that water points could have been contaminated. He said the residents needed relief food and medicine.


    Kenya Association of Tour Operators (Kato) Coast branch chairperson Ms Tasneem Adamji expressed fear that the anticipated tourism boom ahead of the high season that starts in December could be affected.


    Dolphin Tanga Tours official Mr Kassim Noor said the company had suspended operations last Friday.

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