Mombasa residents residing in flood-prone areas have been advised to vacate as early as possible before the onset of El Nino rains.

Speaking to the press at the Governor's office on Thursday afternoon, Mombasa County Secretary Jeizan Faruk urged the residents to cooperate to avoid tragedies resulting from floods.

Faruk revealed that the county has already set up an emergency centre at the Inspectorate headquarters in Tudor and toll free lines to report any incidents.

"Our humble appeal to the residents living in the usual flood prone areas is to please vacate the areas and find safer places, this is for your own good. we do not have to deal with emergencies such as saving lives or even tragedies of losing lives." said Faruk.

Faruk said the county government has already identified the high risk areas and is in the process of coming up with mitigation measures.

Faruk charged "We are working round to the clock to ensure that our county does not experience any disaster or caught off-guard."

The Meteorological Department had announced that the country will receive El Nino from October to December 2023, urging the public to prepare adequately. 

Speaking at the same time the County Transport Executive Member Dan Manyala said they have already started unclogging drainage systems especially in the mainland in preparation for the rains.

"If you go areas like Railways and Mainland we have already unclogged the drainage systems and we are still in the process of unclogging the other drainage systems in different areas of the county" said Manayala.