At least 36 people are dead after devastating rains caused huge landslides in West Pokot County, Kenya, according to reports.

The country has seen mass displacement and villages buried under earth after floods and relentless torrential rain.

Samuel Poghisio, a senator from the county, told Reuters: “We can confirm that the number of those dead has sadly reached 36. Some people who we thought were lost have been found dead.”

According to West Pokot county governor, John Lonyangapuo, 11 of those who died were from the same house.

He added: “More people are marooned and the entire village is at risk of being wiped out by the floods.”

Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years Show all 15 1 /15 Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years epa07992303 A view of a ferry stranded on the docks following bad weather in Venice, northern Italy, 13 November 2019. A wave of bad weather has hit much of Italy on 12 November. Levels of 100-120cm above sea level are fairly common in the lagoon city and Venice is well-equipped to cope with its rafts of pontoon walkways. EPA/ANDREA MEROLA ANDREA MEROLA EPA Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A man stands in the flooded St Mark's Square ANSA via AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years The flooded crypt of St Mark's Basilica is pictured during an exceptionally high water levels in Venice, Italy November 13, 2019. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri MANUEL SILVESTRI Reuters Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A stranded ferry boat is seen in the background as people gather to watch and clean up after a high tide, in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019. The high-water mark hit 187 centimeters (74 inches) late Tuesday, meaning more than 85% of the city was flooded. The highest level ever recorded was 198 centimeters (78 inches) during infamous flooding in 1966. (Andrea Merola/ANSA via AP) Andrea Merola AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A room in the flooded Gritti Palace AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years People and tourists carry their luggage through a flooded street after an exceptional overnight "Alta Acqua" high tide water level, early on November 13, 2019 in Venice. - Powerful rainstorms hit Italy on November 12, with the worst affected areas in the south and Venice, where there was widespread flooding. Within a cyclone that threatens the country, exceptional high water were rising in Venice, with the sirocco winds blowing northwards from the Adriatic sea against the lagoons outlets and preventing the water from flowing back into the sea. At 22:40pm the tide reached 183 cm, the second measure in history after the 198 cm of the 1966 flood. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images) MARCO BERTORELLO AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A man takes photos from the flooded St. Mark's Square after an exceptional overnight "Alta Acqua" high tide water level, early on November 13, 2019 in Venice. - Powerful rainstorms hit Italy on November 12, with the worst affected areas in the south and Venice, where there was widespread flooding. Within a cyclone that threatens the country, exceptional high water were rising in Venice, with the sirocco winds blowing northwards from the Adriatic sea against the lagoons outlets and preventing the water from flowing back into the sea. At 22:40pm the tide reached 183 cm, the second measure in history after the 198 cm of the 1966 flood. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images) MARCO BERTORELLO AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A flooded shop during a night of exceptional high water Reuters Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years People walk across the flooded St Mark's Square past St Mark's Basilica AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years People use a makeshift footbridge to exit a flooded hotel AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A stranded ferry boat is seen by the docks in Venice ANSA via AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A man walks across the flooded St Mark's Square past St Mark's Basilica and the Bell Tower AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A shop owner clears his flooded premises AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years The flooded Riva degli Schiavoni embankment with the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica in background AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A water taxi transported by the water into a street Reuters

Interior cabinet secretary Fred Matiangi claims 17 people died in a mudslide in the village of Takmal in the Pokot Central district, while 12 others lost their lives in mudslides in the villages of Parua and Tapach in Pokot South.

He said the government sent military and police helicopters to help those affected by the floods, but the scope of the disaster was not yet clear.

Mr Matiangi added: “While rescue and recovery efforts remain the priority, a full assessment into the extent of damage caused continues to be a challenge due to harsh weather conditions.”

West Pokot County Commissioner Apollo Okello also said five other people died when their car was swept away on the road between Kitale and Lodwar after two rivers overflowed their banks.

President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta offered sincere condolences to bereaved families, CGTN reports.​

He said in a statement: “My thoughts and prayers, and those of our entire nation are with families, friends and relatives of those who lost their beloved ones in the unfortunate incident. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.

“To those who were injured in the calamitous incident and are receiving treatment in different hospitals, I pray for your quick recovery and restoration.”

The Kenya Red Cross has moved into affected areas to help with the rescue operation and the government says they have launched their own, Tuko reports.

On Twitter, the Red Cross said: “Massive landslides reported in various areas of West Pokot County following heavy downpour.

“Response teams activated. Details to follow.”

The Kenya Red Cross also claims that in Mikinduri, Meru County, a number of houses have reportedly been swept away after the river Thanantu broke its banks.

In Bomet county, at least 40 families have been displaced and 30 residential houses have been submerged in floodwater in the trading centre of the county, the Daily Nation reports.

According to Bomet County medical executive Dr Joseph Sitonik, the flooding is also a fertile breeding ground for mosquitos and could expose residents to malaria, the paper added.

The Kenya Meteorological Department warned the rainfall will continue through to 24 November in northeastern, southeastern, northwestern, western and central regions including Nairobi.

The organisation said: “Floodwaters may suddenly appear even in places where it has not rained before and can be deeper and faster than they look. Residents are advised to avoid driving through, or walking in moving water or open fields.”

The recent spate of floods come after at least 29 people drowned last month and 11,000 were displaced in the African nation due to flooding – bring the death toll to 72.

According to the International Rescue Committee, many people had been reeling from an earlier severe drought in the region.

Now rains in parts of Somalia, South Sudan and Kenya are expected for four to six more weeks.

The torrential rain is uncommon for this time of year. Experts have said the changing weather patterns have a huge impact because close to 100 per cent of Kenya’s agriculture is rain-fed.