40 confirmed dead after dam collapses in western Kenya, police say

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• A dam collapse in western Kenya on Monday resulted in at least 40 deaths as floodwaters engulfed houses.
• The collapsed dam, known as the Old Kijabe Dam, is located in the flood-prone Mai Mahiu area of the Great Rift Valley region.
• Ongoing heavy rains in Kenya have led to widespread flooding, causing nearly 100 deaths.

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, police said.

The Old Kijabe Dam, located in the Mai Mahiu area of the Great Rift Valley region that is prone to flash floods, collapsed and water spilled downstream, police official Stephen Kirui told The Associated Press.

Ongoing rains in Kenya have caused flooding that has already killed nearly 100 people and caused the opening of schools to be postponed.

AT LEAST 70 PEOPLE KILLED BY FLOODING IN KENYA AS MORE RAIN IS EXPECTED

Heavy rains have been pounding the country since mid-March and the Meteorology Department has warned of more rainfall.

People gather on the main road after a dam burst in Kamuchiri Village Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, Kenya, on April 29, 2024. Police in Kenya say at least 40 people have died after a dam collapsed in the country’s west. (AP Photo)

The East African region 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.

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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.