Floods in Kenya: the toll increases under new rains

Since mid-March, floods and heavy rains in Kenya have caused the deaths of at least 70 people, according to a government spokesperson, a figure twice as high as initial reports.

Eight bodies were recovered from a river in the eastern Makueni County on Saturday after a truck carrying passengers was swept away by a submerged bridge. Fourteen other people were rescued, local residents reported.

Witnesses said the truck was carrying more than 30 people when it attempted to cross the flooded bridge, sparking fears about the potential number of additional victims when the waters recede.

The East African country of Kenya has been hit by weeks of heavy rains and devastating floods, particularly affecting the capital Nairobi as well as western and central regions.

Currently, more than 130,000 people are affected, with thousands of homes swept away or submerged. In the capital alone, 64 public schools had to close their doors due to flooding.

Infrastructure has also been hit hard, with roads and bridges damaged or completely destroyed, further worsening the situation in these regions already hard hit by bad weather.