Heavy Rains Trigger Fatal Dam Collapse In Kenya, Claiming At Least 40 Lives

• Dam collapse in Kenya results in at least 40 fatalities amid heavy rainfall
• Incident highlights the destructive impact of natural disasters on communities
• Calls for increased infrastructure safety measures and disaster preparedness in flood-prone regions

 

EKO HOT BLOG reports that In western Kenya, a dam collapse early Monday resulted in the deaths of at least 40 people as torrents of water engulfed homes and blocked a key road, according to police reports.

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The Old Kijabe Dam, situated in the flash flood-prone Mai Mahiu area of the Great Rift Valley, ruptured, unleashing a deluge of water downstream, carrying debris such as mud, rocks, and uprooted trees, informed police official Stephen Kirui to The Associated Press.

In the aftermath, vehicles were ensnared in the wreckage along one of Kenya’s busiest highways, with paramedics attending to the injured amidst widespread inundation.

Continued heavy rainfall in Kenya has exacerbated flooding, claiming nearly 100 lives and causing delays in school openings.

Since mid-March, the country has been pounded by relentless downpours, prompting warnings of further precipitation from the Meteorology Department.

In response to the disaster, Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kithure Kindiki, mandated the inspection of all public and private dams and reservoirs within 24 hours starting Monday afternoon to prevent future incidents, with recommendations for evacuations and resettlement to follow.

As the country grapples with the aftermath, the Kenya National Highways Authority issued alerts for heavy traffic and debris blocking roads in Naivasha and Narok, west of Nairobi, the capital.

The wider East African region is also facing flooding due to the relentless rains, with reports of 155 fatalities in Tanzania and over 200,000 people affected in neighboring Burundi.

In another incident, a boat capsized in Kenya’s northern Garissa county on Sunday night, with the Kenyan Red Cross rescuing 23 people while over a dozen remained missing.

The flooding also affected Kenya’s main airport on Saturday, leading to diverted flights as footage of covered runway, terminals, and cargo section circulated online.

With over 200,000 people across Kenya impacted by the floods, homes in flood-prone areas have been covered, forcing residents to seek refuge in schools.

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President William Ruto has directed the National Youth Service to  distribute land for use as temporary camps for those affected by the disaster.