Landslide in Elgeyo Marakwet, Kenya kills at least 22, dozens missing

At least 21 people were killed and dozens more were unaccounted for after a landslide struck the hilly Chesongoch area of Elgeyo Marakwet County in Kenya's western Rift Valley early on Saturday, officials said, as heavy seasonal rains triggered widespread mudslides and flooding. Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said in a post on X that rescue teams had confirmed 21 deaths and that more than 30 people were reported missing by relatives. A government spokesperson later said the toll had risen to 22 and that 29 people remained missing.

The landslide occurred overnight during the country's short rains season and flattened more than 1,000 homes, local authorities and relief agencies said. Several roads were cut off, hampering ground access, and military and police helicopters were deployed to support search and rescue operations and to airlift the injured to hospitals. Officials said dozens of survivors with serious injuries were flown to a hospital in Eldoret for treatment.

Aerial images shared by the Kenyan Red Cross showed extensive mudflows and flash flooding that swept across large distances, washing away houses and infrastructure. The Red Cross said it was coordinating with...