At least 20 people have lost their lives and over 30 remain unaccounted for following a devastating landslide in Kenya’s western Rift Valley region. The disaster has been exacerbated by heavy rainfall, which has battered the area for days, rendering the most affected regions inaccessible by road due to mudslides and flash flooding.

Rescue efforts have been underway, with 25 individuals suffering serious injuries airlifted to a hospital in Eldoret for treatment. Others with minor injuries received medical care on site. Despite the ongoing heavy rain, disaster agencies continued their search through the debris of collapsed homes for missing persons on Saturday.

As the search and rescue operations entered their second day on Sunday, local officials emphasized their urgent efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and support to families impacted by the tragedy. The landslide has resulted in the destruction of over 1,000 homes in the hilly area of Chesongoch in Elgeyo-Marakwet County.

Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, has urged residents living near seasonal rivers or in areas prone to landslides to relocate to safer locations. The country is currently experiencing its second rainy season, known as the “short rains,” which typically brings a few weeks of wet weather. However, the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events has been heightened, with hundreds of people losing their lives in recent years due to landslides and flooding.

Scientists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of such events to climate change. As Kenya struggles to cope with the aftermath of this latest disaster, the focus will be on providing aid to those affected and implementing measures to mitigate the impact of future extreme weather events. The situation serves as a stark reminder of the need for enhanced disaster preparedness and response strategies in regions prone to such disasters.