The ABC of landslides and how to survive them

 

On Saturday Kenyans woke up to the news that that mudslides had left a trail of death and destruction in West Pokot.

The mudslides and floods rendered several villages in Central and South Pokot desolate. A statement from the Ministry of Interior and National Coordination said 29 people from Patach, Parua, and Tamkal villages had died and many other residents were unaccounted for.

By Monday morning, the number of fatalities stood at 52 amidst fears that the fatalities could be beyond the official numbers since many bodies were believed to be stuck in sludge.

Bed-ridden in Kapenguria County Hospital is a 23-year old mother Leah Chemnee, who has recounted her ordeal but after losing her children on the fateful night.

“As the house buckled, my daughter screamed attracting attention of my in-laws who responded and rescued me.

" I lost three children who were swept away to their deaths. Their bodies were found metres away from the house,” she said in an interview with The Standard.

Chemnee, like other victims, survived but she will live with the pain inflicted by the tragedy.

Yesterday, the Kenya Red Cross Society waived another red flag documenting even more landslide-prone areas.

Kenya Red Cross its precautionary statement warned 40 families in Murang’a County to evacuate the areas to avert possible landslide.

“Effects of mudslides have been experienced in Gitugi and Kiambuthia areas in Mathioya Sub-County where destruction has been reported,” said Gitonga Mugambi, the Kenya Red Cross Society manager for Mt Kenya region.

“We advised Murang’a residents to be alert and report to chiefs any cracks in the areas,” he said.

On November 19, 2019, the Kenya Meteorological Department on Tuesday cautioned residents across the 47 counties to be on the lookout for possible flooding.

Priscilla Chebosongur salvages remains of household belongings of her relatives after floods washed away houses at Nyarukulian in West Pokot on Friday night. The death toll has climbed to 52. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

What is a landslide?

According to the National Geographic encyclopedia, a landslide is a movement or the sliding downslope of the earth, debris or rocks triggered by rainfall, a volcano or earthquake.

Scientists categorise the factors triggering landslides into geological and morphological factors and those linked to human activities.

 “Geology refers to the characteristics of the material itself. The earth or rock might be weak or fractured, or different layers may have different strengths and stiffness,” reports National Geographic,

The morphological factor refers to the landslides occurring as a result of depleted vegetation which results in loose soil structure, it states.

Also, human activities such as mining, constructions, deforestation, and excavations are equally possible triggers of the disaster.

Landslide hotspots in Kenya

A November 12, 2009 study by the United Nations Office Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), published by Reliefwent.int paints identifies land-slide prone spots in Rift Valley, Central and Western regions of Kenya.

According to the study, there are over 20 landslide-prone areas in the country. They include Kapenguria, Kocholia Hills, Kokwet, Tinderet, Sirwa, Timboiwo, Subukia, Kedowa, Ngoina, Itumbe, Kegoch, Nakuru, Gathukiini, Kijabe, Gatanga, Gathugu, Kiiru, Kitheo, Maua, and Voi.

Murang’a has been flagged as one of the most prone counties with Kenya Red Cross naming close to 15 areas of focus such as Mathioya, Kahuro, Kangema, Kigumo, Kaganda, Kahatia, Inoi, Kenya Njeru, Kayu and Kiarathe, and Gitugi and Kiambuthia areas in Mathioya.

In April 2018, four relatives died and ten others were injured after a landslide hit Murang’a.

According to Think Hazard.com, a website that profiles natural disasters in Kenya; the country generally has low-risk exposure landslides.

Rift Valley and Western regions have low risk, Nairobi and parts of Central and Eastern have very low risk while North Eastern and Coast have no risk.

The Kenya Natural Disaster Profile. however, reveals that floods have contributed to the highest number of deaths and landslide come third after a drought. 

 Below, landslide hotspots in Kenya:

Map: United Nations Office Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

What to do in case of a landslide

The Red Cross Society gives nine-point safety tip on how to survive landslide:

• If danger is imminent, evacuate immediately. Inform affected neighbours if you can, and contact the public works, fire or police departments. 
• Listen for unusual sounds that might indicate moving debris, such as trees cracking or boulders knocking together. 
• If you are near a stream or channel, be alert for any sudden increase or decrease in water flow and notice whether the water changes from clear to muddy. Such changes may mean there is sludge flowing upstream so be prepared to move quickly.
• Be especially alert when driving— watch for collapsed pavements, mud, fallen rocks and other indications of possible debris flow.
• If you are ordered or decide to evacuate, take your animals with you. 
• Consider a precautionary evacuation of large or numerous animals as soon as you are aware of impending danger.

In case of severe storms do the following:

• Stay alert and awake. Many deaths from landslides occur while people are sleeping.
• Listen to local news stations on a battery-powered radio for warnings of heavy rainfall.
• Consider leaving if it is safe to do so.