Kenya, 30 October 2025 - Floods triggered by torrential rains continue to batter Tana River and neighbouring counties, forcing emergency teams into nonstop rescue operations.
The Kenya Red Cross on Wednesday night rescued a man stranded in Kolati-Tula, Tana River County, after flash floods marooned parts of the settlement.
According to the organisation, the man had made several distress calls before Red Cross teams reached him at about 11:45p.m., safely evacuating and later reuniting him with his family.
“Residents are urged to stay safe, keep away from flooded areas, and avoid crossing moving waters,” the Kenya Red Cross said in a statement posted on X.
Red Cross teams are also conducting similar rescue operations in nearby villages where homes, schools, and farms have been cut off by rising waters.
In Garissa County, at least 25 people have been evacuated from low-lying zones, while families in Kona Punda and Tulla were moved to temporary shelters after overnight rainfall submerged roads.
Warnings Come True
The Kenya Meteorological Department (MET) had warned earlier this month that Cyclone Chenge. now pushing moisture inland from the Indian Ocean, would bring “strong winds and heavy rainfall” to the northeastern and coastal regions.
Counties under alert include Garissa, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, and Tana River, as well as parts of the southeast lowlands.
“The cyclone’s peripheral effects will enhance rainfall and trigger flooding in low-lying areas,” said MET Director during a briefing last week.
“Residents along River Tana and other flood basins should remain alert.”
By Thursday, floodwaters had submerged entire villages and destroyed several bridges, hampering relief access. Smallholder farmers in Tana Delta reported losing livestock and crops just weeks before harvest, compounding an already fragile food-security situation.
Economic and Human Toll
The flooding comes less than a year after similar weather patterns displaced over 20,000 people in northern Kenya, wiping out livelihoods and damaging infrastructure.
Tana River and Garissa counties, critical suppliers of maize, beans, and livestock, now face renewed fears of food shortages and market disruptions.
The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) has activated county emergency units and pre-positioned boats, tents, and medical supplies in Garissa, Isiolo, and Lamu.
The Kenya Red Cross continues to urge residents in flood-prone regions to move to higher ground and report emergencies through its 1199 hotline.
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