Several houses located along the Kenyan Coast were destroyed and an unknown number of people displaced on Tuesday after cyclone Ialy hit the region.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Society, the region experienced strong winds in the afternoon that blew off the roofs of residential houses.
The winds which escalated for several minutes blew off electric posts in Casuarina, Olimpia, Madunguni in Malindi County, and those located in Garashi Kilifi County, leading to a major blackout.
During the incident, two electricity posts located within the Jilore Trading Centre in Kilifi caught fire, sparking fears among residents.
Following the tragedy, the Red Cross Society embarked on a rescue mission even as the devastating effects of the strong winds continued to be felt.
“Extremely strong winds have been reported in various Coastal areas of Kenya due to Tropical Storm IALY,” the Kenya Red Cross revealed.
Despite the destruction caused by the strong winds, the rescue team noted that no casualties had been reported.
“No casualties have been reported so far. We continue to urge extra caution,” Kenya Red Cross warned.
The announcement by the Kenya Red Cross came barely hours after the Meteorological Department warned of potential hazards caused by the cyclone Ialy.
"The Coastal areas will also experience these strong winds, which might pose a hazard to marine operations and Coastal activities," Kenya Met warned.
In his mid-morning announcement, the weatherman urged operators of small boats and crafts to avoid deep-sea areas.
"As a result of tropical storm IALY, expect south-easterly winds at 10-30 knots over Kenya waters. Wave heights will range from 1.5 to 3.6m. Moderate to strong sea conditions," the weather department stated.
