Flash floods kill 12 in Kenya

At least 12 people have been killed by flash floods in Kenya's southeastern region, police said Monday.

The heavy rains have also caused widespread destruction of property and infrastructure in Kajiado County, where the 12 victims died in the past two days, Xinhua quoted Divisional Police Commander Mohammed Farah as saying.

The county was flooded after seasonal rivers burst their banks in heavy rains.

"Two women travelling from Isinya along the pipeline road in a Toyota Corolla saloon car were swept by raging floods near Dawamu School Saturday at Oltepes area near Kiserian," Farah said.

The two were flashed into a raging seasonal river and their bodies were recovered Sunday evening trapped in their car.

The 10 others lost their lives while travelling Sunday night in the same region. Police said the victims include seven girls and two boys.

"We have retrieved their bodies," he said. But Farah said they were unable to retrieve the vehicle because of the speed of the water flow.

Several parts of the country have been affected by flooding following an increased heavy downpour.

Authorities have put areas near major rivers on high alert and advised local residents to move to higher ground.