In a tragic turn of events, a massive landslide has swept through a tea plantation in Murang’a County, Kenya, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, has resulted in the loss of an estimated 2,000 tea bushes, as well as the destruction of several homes and a nearby school.
According to local authorities, the landslide was triggered by the heavy rains that have been pounding the region in recent days. The saturated soil and the steep terrain of the area have made the region particularly vulnerable to such natural disasters.
“We are counting losses since we depend on the tea to feed our families,” said Mr. Stephen Kabuthia, a local tea farmer whose farm and trees were swept away by the landslide. “The trees which we sell to complement the tea business and the napier grass for our cows have also been affected.”
The local disaster management committee has been convened to assess the situation and determine the appropriate course of action. Authorities have cordoned off the affected area and marked it as a dangerous zone, as they fear that additional homes and the nearby school may also be at risk of being swept away.
This is not the first time that Murang’a County has been hit by such a devastating landslide. Last year, two people lost their lives in a similar incident in the neighboring Inoi village. The region’s vulnerability to such natural disasters has been exacerbated by the ongoing heavy rains, which have been classified as a threat by the Meteorological Department.
As the local community grapples with the aftermath of this tragedy, the need for comprehensive disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies has become increasingly apparent. The authorities must work closely with the affected farmers to provide the necessary support and ensure that such incidents do not continue to devastate the livelihoods of the people of Murang’a.