KISUMU, Kenya, Oct 8 — Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds damaged several buildings and vehicles in Kisumu on Thursday, forcing workers to flee for safety and raising concerns over the condition of old structures in the city.

📻 Breaking It Down

The downpour lasted about 20 minutes but caused damage in several parts of the city.

At Obote Road, part of the wall at Jumbo Steel Mills Hardware collapsed, sending workers scrambling for safety.

John Otieno, a cashier at the hardware, said he sought shelter under a table as workers rushed out of the building.

📌 What You Need to Know

“I ducked under the table as I heard the screams of workers who were scampering out,” Otieno said.

Along Jomo Kenyatta Highway, strong winds brought down a billboard, damaging vehicles parked nearby.

Kisumu County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo, who visited the affected area, said at least four structures had been damaged by the heavy rain and strong winds.

“There is damage to one, two, three, four structures as a result of the heavy rain followed with the strong winds,” Mwabudzo said.

He urged landlords and tenants to inspect buildings, particularly older structures, as heavy rains and strong winds are expected to persist.

“This is just a tip of the iceberg. We don’t know how heavy the rain will be,” he said.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya