Kenya’s President, William Ruto, has placed the country on high alert and indefinitely postponed the reopening of schools, as residents brace for the arrival of the first cyclone in the country’s history.

More than 350 people have lost their lives due to the torrential rains affecting East Africa since March, and now the region faces the threat of a cyclone expected to reach the mainland this weekend from the Indian Ocean.

“This cyclone, Cyclone Hintaya, which could hit us at any time, may bring torrential rains, strong winds, and large, dangerous waves,” said Ruto in a press briefing in Nairobi. “Our country must act swiftly and decisively to limit the destructive consequences and protect lives and property,” he added.

Following the floods of the past few days, schools were scheduled to reopen on Monday, but their opening has been indefinitely postponed. All ministers have been instructed to assist in coordinating the evacuation and relocation of Kenyans affected by the extreme weather.

Cyclone Hintaya, accompanied by winds gusting up to 165 kilometers per hour, is expected to reach neighboring Tanzania tomorrow, Saturday, according to the regional meteorological center, ICPAC.

The cyclone season in the southwestern Indian Ocean typically runs from November to April.

Tanzanian authorities earlier warned that Cyclone Hintaya had intensified overnight, when it was about 400 kilometers away from the city of Mtwara.

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https://t.co/FvaGB2goM1 pic.twitter.com/EJYHQVw4gG

— Kenya Met Department ?? (@MeteoKenya) May 3, 2024

?️ Attention Nairobi Metropolitan Residents! Prepare for HEAVY to VERY HEAVY rainfall this Friday. Stay weather-aware! Keep updated with https://t.co/NHZNDsKHAW.
For further details, please visit our website at https://t.co/NHZNDsKHAW, pic.twitter.com/X4J64irk2H

— Kenya Met Department ?? (@MeteoKenya) May 3, 2024

?️ Friday’s 3rd May, 2024 satellite imagery, from late afternoon to evening, reveals evolving weather patterns, leading to widespread rainfall in regions marked blue, yellow, and reddish-brown.
For more information, visit our website at https://t.co/fuZCEEL2HB https://t.co/1jfTuu71eK pic.twitter.com/7DLOErvlRx

— Kenya Met Department ?? (@MeteoKenya) May 3, 2024