At least 40 dead after dam collapse in western Kenya, police say

April 29, 2024 by No Comments

A dam collapsed in western Kenya early Monday, killing at least 40 people after a wall of water swept through houses and cut off a major road, .The Old Kijabe Dam, located in the Mai Mahiu area of the Great Rift Valley region that is prone to flash floods, burst and water spilled downstream, police official Stephen Kirui told The Associated Press.Ongoing rains in Kenya have that has already killed nearly 100 people and caused the opening of schools to be postponed.Heavy rains have been pounding the country since mid-March and the Meteorology Department has warned of more rainfall. is experiencing flooding due to the heavy rains, and 155 people have reportedly died in Tanzania while more than 200,000 people are affected in neighboring Burundi.Kenya’s main airport was flooded on Saturday, forcing some flights to be diverted, as videos of a flooded runway, terminals and cargo section were shared online.More than 200,000 people across Kenya the country have been affected by the floods, with houses in flood-prone areas submerged and people seeking refuge in schools.President William Ruto had instructed the National Youth Service to provide land for use as a temporary camp for those affected.