Millions of baby locusts have started hatching in Kenya, sparking fears new swarms could soon wreak havoc across an already devastated east Africa.
Food supplies across Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia have been completely destroyed after billions of desert locusts laid waste to the region in what has been described as the worst plague for decades.
Swarms as big as 60km across have quickly spread to Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan and even the coronavirus-stricken China.
But, just as the regions start trying to recover, new swarms may soon be in the skies.
Videos posted to Twitter yesterday show grounds in Kenya teeming with baby insects who have just hatched.
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Yoana Kimwele, who shared one video of the scenes unfolding in Maseki Village in Kitui County, said: “Desert locust nymphs have begun to hatch out.
“According to this rare footage, our worst fears may be confirmed soon despite the government commitment to fight these desert locusts.”
Another clip – taken some 200 miles away in Tharaka Nithi County – shows the exact same scene unfolding.
The UN predicted last month that the locust eggs would hatch sometime this month after the locusts were seen laying eggs in January.
These would then form new swarms in early April. That would mean the swarms could hit just as the regions' "planting season" begins – when crops start growing.
This “second hatch” could threaten the food security of 25million people across east Africa, according to the UN.
Millions across east Africa already face food shortages on a regular basis. But the locusts offer an altogether scarier proposition.
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A swarm covering just one square kilometre is able to devour as much food in a day as 35,000 people.
The terrifying sight of the locusts has been shown in several videos from regions in recent weeks.
Apocalyptic footage surfaced yesterday of the sky turning black as the locusts descended on Bahrain.
And last month, a driver found himself trapped in vast cloud of the insects.
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