Landslides Kill 26, Destroy 1,000 Homes in Rift Valley

Heavy rains and flash floods in Kenya’s Rift Valley, particularly the Chesongoch area of Elgeyo-Marakwet, caused landslides that killed at least 26 people, left dozens missing, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and displaced thousands. Rescue teams intensified operations and the military deployed four aircraft to reach communities cut off by washed-away roads, but searches were suspended after further flash flooding; authorities are airlifting relief, evacuating injured to hospitals and pledging to cover medical bills and resettle affected families. The Kenya Red Cross and officials warned the hills remain highly susceptible to additional mudslides and urged residents to move to safer ground as heavy rains continue. Separately, in Indonesia’s Highland Papua, 15 mostly-student river crossers went missing after a landslide and flash flood, and local searches are ongoing amid persistent heavy rain.