Advertisement
More than 400 killed in East Africa as cyclone triggers floods and landslides
- Coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania have been buffeted by heavy rains and high winds from Tropical Cyclone Hidaya
- Kenyan President William Ruto says the weather situation is ‘dire’ and the dangers from the country’s first-ever cyclone are not over
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Coastal regions of Kenya and Tanzania were buffeted by heavy rains and high winds from a tropical cyclone on Saturday, adding to the chaos caused by deadly floods that have ravaged the region.
Advertisement
More than 400 people have lost their lives across East Africa and tens of thousands have been uprooted from their homes in recent weeks as torrential rains triggered flooding and landslides that engulfed houses, roads and bridges.
The Kenya Met Department said in a bulletin on Saturday that the effects of Tropical Cyclone Hidaya were already being felt offshore, with strong winds exceeding 40 knots and waves over two metres (over six feet).
It said heavy rainfall along the Indian Ocean coastal strip was expected from Sunday, intensifying over the following two days.
“Current observations indicate that Tropical Cyclone Hidaya has made landfall on the coast of Tanzania. However, there is another depression developing behind it,” it said.
Advertisement
There was no immediate confirmation from the Tanzanian authorities.
Advertisement