In Yatta, approximately 120km (75 miles) from Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, a dramatic rescue unfolded on Tuesday as a police helicopter swooped in to save a five-year-old boy stranded by flooding.
According to authorities, the boy had been abandoned by his father as the water levels surged. The International Centre for Humanitarian Affairs, a non-profit organization, utilized drones to pinpoint the child’s location.
Upon receiving the alert, the police dispatched a rescue helicopter from Nairobi.
Initial efforts to reach the child by boat were thwarted by adverse weather conditions, as reported by the Kenya Red Cross.
“The child, visibly shaken by the ordeal after being stranded for quite a long period, was safely rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for care,” it added.
Recent heavy rains have unleashed havoc across Kenya and the broader East Africa region, resulting in extensive flooding and devastation.
In Kenya alone, flooding has affected 23 out of the country’s 47 counties, leaving numerous individuals trapped in perilous situations.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, over 188 people have been rescued since the onset of the floods, as of Tuesday. Additionally, the flooding has led to the displacement of more than 11,200 households, submerged 27,716 acres of land, and resulted in the tragic loss of over 4,800 farm animals.