In the wake of severe flooding that damaged a section of the track over the weekend, cargo rail services to Kenya’s Mombasa port have successfully resumed, according to an announcement by Kenya Railways on Monday.
The disruption was caused by heavy rains associated with the El Niño phenomenon, leading to flash floods that submerged towns across East Africa, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and causing significant damage. The death toll in Kenya has reached 52 as of Friday, with expectations of a rise.
Kenya Railways reported on the restoration of both the loading and offloading of cargo, highlighting that passenger services are also back to operating under normal conditions. The state-owned rail operator assured the public in a statement shared on the social media platform X that efforts are underway to work around the clock, aiming to minimize any potential delays.
As the region grapples with the aftermath of the floods, the resumption of crucial cargo rail services is a significant step toward normalcy, facilitating the movement of goods to and from Mombasa port.
The impact of the flooding on communities across East Africa underscores the challenges posed by extreme weather events and the ongoing efforts needed to address the resulting humanitarian crises.