- By Farouk Chothia
- BBC News
Image source, Kenya National Highways Authority
More than 40 people have died in Kenya after a dam burst following heavy rains and flooding, officials have said.
Homes were swept away and roads were cut off after the dam burst in Kamuchiri village in western Kenya.
“Forty-two dead, it’s a conservative estimate. There are still more in the mud,” Nakuru county governor Susan Kihika told AFP news agency.
More than 100 people have been killed in floods that have devastated parts of Kenya in the last month.
Rescue teams are digging through the mud in search of survivors in the village near the small town of Mai Mahiu, about 60km (37 miles) from the capital Nairobi.
Of the 42 bodies recovered so far, 17 were of children, police commander Stephen Kirui said, cited by Reuters news agency.
“The water came at high speed from Old Kijabe Dam and washed away many houses and vehicles. We have never seen such devastating floods since we were born here in Mai Mahiu. Very many people are still missing,” resident David Kamau tod the BBC.
The government has delayed the opening of schools across Kenya with more rain expected to come, according to forecasters.
More than 130,000 people have been displaced by the floods, with many people taking shelter in schools.
Heavy rains have also pounded neighbouring Tanzania and Burundi.
At least 155 people have been killed in Tanzania since January.
In Burundi, nearly 100,000 people have been displaced.
More about the floods in East Africa:
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
