The death toll has reached 18 while rescue teams respond to widespread damage

At least 18 people have died due to flooding and landslides following heavy rains in Kenya, while extreme weather continues to batter large parts of the country, the national police service reported on Sunday.

Mudslides have struck several regions in the central and eastern part of the country, leaving families displaced and causing widespread destruction to homes and infrastructure.

"The National Police Service has confirmed the loss of 18 lives as a result of these incidents," the police said in the statement.

Emergency response teams have been deployed to carry out search and rescue operations, evacuate residents from high-risk zones, and deliver relief supplies. Officials are also assessing areas most prone to further landslides in an effort to prevent additional casualties, as fears grow that the situation could deteriorate if the rains continue.

It marks the second deadly flooding episode to hit parts of Kenya in under two months. In March, severe flooding across the African state claimed at least 81 lives. Nairobi was the hardest-hit region, with 37 victims. The country is now in the midst of its rainy season, which usually peaks in early May.

Heavy rainfall in late 2025 has also resulted in widespread flooding across parts of southern Africa, overwhelming drainage systems and causing rivers and dams to surge beyond capacity. In April, at least 42 people were killed in Angola after torrential rains triggered widespread flooding across multiple provinces.

In South Africa, prolonged downpours have inundated the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, killing at least 30 people, damaging thousands of homes, and prompting evacuations, including in Kruger National Park.

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Zimbabwe has experienced extensive flooding, with at least 70 deaths, 51 injuries, and more than 1,000 homes destroyed since early January.

(RT.com)