By eastafrican gazette
KENYA
The massive flash floods triggered by the burst of the Old Kijabe Dam on the Sunday night of April 28, 2024, in Nkuru Country, Western Kenya, are claimed to have killed approximately 40 people.
The tragic flash floods are also alleged to have killed animals, injured numerous individuals, cars destroyed, main road cut off, and displaced households from Kamuchiri village Mai Mahiu.
According to Naivasha police commander, Stephen Kirui confirmed at least 40 bodies had been collected from debris.
The incident occurred near the Geat Rift Valley region, which is prone to flash floods.
“We have 40 bodies so far collected and many more are covered by the mud. Many cars too are covered,” he said.
Rescue teams claim five vehicles were still trapped in the mud but bodies had been retrieved. However, according to authorities, many people are still missing.
“We expect the numbers to go up as the search and rescue goes on,” another official noted.
More than 100 people are said to been rushed to hospital following the tragedy.
After the dam collapsed, water poured downstream, taking away the communities.
This comes at a time when Kenya has lost over 100 lives due to floods caused by severe rainfall which have been on over the last month.
Heavy rains have caused floods in the East African region, with over 200 people confirmed dead.
Kenya’s main airport was flooded on Saturday, and several flights diverted after videos of a flooded runway circulated online.
The Kenya Red Cross has deployed rescue boats to aid rescue operations in high risk areas.
President William Ruto directed the National Youth Service (NYS) to provide property for use as a temporary camp for those impacted.
Speaking on April 25, 2024, the president said Kenyans living in dangerous areas will be moved to the land provided by NYS as the government plans on what to do.
“Even as we get the blessing of the rains we also have seen floods in many parts of the country, many Kenyans are going through difficult times,” he said.
“As I speak, 10,000 people in Nairobi city are displaced by floods, that is the gravity of the situation, only a year ago we had a devastating drought,” Ruto added
According to Kenya’s Government spokesperson, Dr. Isaac Mwaura 103 people have been lost to flood.
Due to the emergency situation of across the country, he said school opening had been postponed by one week till May 6, 2024.