Over 35 killed after dam bursts in Kenya, as weeks of heavy rain devastate region

KENYA – At least 35 people have reportedly been killed and dozens of others are missing after a dam burst in southern Kenya.

The dam burst has swept away homes and vehicles as the country grapples with weeks of heavy rains and devastating flash floods.

Rescue teams are digging through the mud and debris trying to find survivors near Mai Mahiu, in Kenya’s Nakuru County, Gov. Susan Kihika told CNN, warning that the death toll could rise significantly.

The floodwaters were reported to have originated from a nearby river that broke its banks.

“We are trying to get a handle on the situation but it’s a bit overwhelming but we are doing the best we can especially to reach those who have been carried away because we hope that some are still alive,” Kihika said.

Government spokesperson, Isaac Maigua Mwaura, said on Monday that the incident came as flooding had inundated large swathes of Kenya, killing at least 103 people and forcing thousands of residents from their homes since March.

On Monday, the Kenya Red Cross Society said several people were taken to a health facility in Mai Mahiu due to the flash floods affecting Kamuchiri village.

Kenya has registered heavy rain since mid-March but downpours have intensified over the past week, leading to mass flooding.

Some 131,450 people have been affected as floods swept through almost half of Kenya.

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