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| Kenya floods: Tourists and staff stranded in Maasai Mara game reserve | Kenya floods: Tourists and staff stranded in Maasai Mara game reserve |
| (12 days later) | |
| The Talek River burst its banks, flooding the game reserve | The Talek River burst its banks, flooding the game reserve |
| The Talek River burst its banks, flooding the game reserve | |
| Tourists and staff are being evacuated from Kenya's popular Maasai Mara game reserve after floods left parts of it submerged. | Tourists and staff are being evacuated from Kenya's popular Maasai Mara game reserve after floods left parts of it submerged. |
| More than 10 lodges and camps have been flooded after the nearby Talek River burst its banks on Tuesday. | More than 10 lodges and camps have been flooded after the nearby Talek River burst its banks on Tuesday. |
| There are also fears that some animals might have been swept away by the raging floods. | There are also fears that some animals might have been swept away by the raging floods. |
| The area's police chief, Kipkoech Lotiatia, told the BBC the reserve was badly damaged. | The area's police chief, Kipkoech Lotiatia, told the BBC the reserve was badly damaged. |
| It is unclear how many people are trapped in the reserve, but about 90 have been rescued so far either by air or boat, according to the Kenya Red Cross. | It is unclear how many people are trapped in the reserve, but about 90 have been rescued so far either by air or boat, according to the Kenya Red Cross. |
| Most of the affected camps have been closed but the flooding has subsided, the aid agency says. | Most of the affected camps have been closed but the flooding has subsided, the aid agency says. |
| "In some camps, tents have been swept away, and the Mara bridge, linking the Mara Triangle and the Greater Mara, has been washed away," the aid agency said in a post on X, external earlier on Wednesday. | |
| Local official Stephen Nakola told the AFP news agency about 100 tourists were stranded. | Local official Stephen Nakola told the AFP news agency about 100 tourists were stranded. |
| Many foreign and local tourists visit the reserve to see its wildlife, including lions, leopards and cheetahs. | Many foreign and local tourists visit the reserve to see its wildlife, including lions, leopards and cheetahs. |
| Mr Lotiatia earlier told journalists that rescue teams were using two emergency helicopters to evacuate the tourists and workers. | Mr Lotiatia earlier told journalists that rescue teams were using two emergency helicopters to evacuate the tourists and workers. |
| The Masai Mara management did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment. | The Masai Mara management did not immediately respond to a BBC request for comment. |
| The Talek river burst its banks on Tuesday afternoon following heavy rains upstream. | The Talek river burst its banks on Tuesday afternoon following heavy rains upstream. |
| The situation has been made worse by waters flowing from the Mara river, near the Serengeti-Tanzania border, following days of rainfall in the area. | The situation has been made worse by waters flowing from the Mara river, near the Serengeti-Tanzania border, following days of rainfall in the area. |
| "After several days of continuous rainfall, our rivers have swollen, impacting several camps and areas in the Maasai Mara National Reserve," the local Narok county government said in a statement. | "After several days of continuous rainfall, our rivers have swollen, impacting several camps and areas in the Maasai Mara National Reserve," the local Narok county government said in a statement. |
| Roads and bridges have also been submerged by the raging waters, affecting local communities. | Roads and bridges have also been submerged by the raging waters, affecting local communities. |
| The Talek gate, one of the main routes out of the game reserve, is said to be heavily flooded. | The Talek gate, one of the main routes out of the game reserve, is said to be heavily flooded. |
| President William Ruto has ordered Kenyans living in areas at risk of flooding or landslides to evacuate. | President William Ruto has ordered Kenyans living in areas at risk of flooding or landslides to evacuate. |
| The rainy season has been devastating this year, and about 180 people have been killed and 90 are missing in weeks of flooding. | The rainy season has been devastating this year, and about 180 people have been killed and 90 are missing in weeks of flooding. |
| More about the floods in Kenya: | More about the floods in Kenya: |
| Waking to a 'different world' after Kenya's flood | Waking to a 'different world' after Kenya's flood |
| Waking to a 'different world' after Kenya's flood | |
| 'Nature fights back' as Kenya battles deluge | 'Nature fights back' as Kenya battles deluge |
| 'Nature fights back' as Kenya battles deluge | |
| Villagers swept away in their sleep | |
| Villagers swept away in their sleep | Villagers swept away in their sleep |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Kenya | Kenya |