At least 42 individuals have lost their lives on Monday, April 29, when a dam breached its banks near a town in Kenya’s Rift Valley, amidst heavy rains and flooding currently ravaging the country.
It was gathered that the dam collapse near Mai Mahiu in Nakuru county resulted in the destruction of homes and the severing of a road, prompting rescuers to sift through debris in search of survivors.
According to Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, she described the toll as a conservative one, acknowledging ongoing efforts to recover more victims from the mud.
The dam disaster on Monday adds to the grim toll of 120 fatalities recorded during the March-May wet season, exacerbated by unusually heavy rainfall.
In a separate incident, the Kenya Red Cross has announced the retrieval of two bodies following the capsizing of a boat carrying numerous individuals over the weekend in flooded Tana River county.
While twenty-three others were rescued from the incident.
Photos circulated online depicted the harrowing scene as the overcrowded boat sank, with horrified onlookers witnessing the tragedy.
However, Kenya has faced immense challenges from flash floods, submerging roads and neighborhoods, leading to the displacement of over 130,000 people across 24,000 households, particularly in Nairobi.
The education ministry announced a one-week delay in the reopening of schools due to the hazardous weather conditions, with Education Minister Ezekiel Machogu citing the need for adequate safety measures following severe damage caused by the rains.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Tanzania has also suffered significant devastation, with at least 155 casualties reported from flooding and landslides.
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