At least 42 individuals have lost their lives in floods in the Mai Mahiu area of central Kenya following the rupture of a dam early on Monday. The country in East Africa is grappling with heavy rainfall and resultant flooding.
Nakuru County Governor, Susan Kihika, confirmed the tragic incident, stating, “Forty-two individuals have perished, but this is a conservative estimate. There are still more individuals trapped in the mud, and our efforts are focused on recovery.”
The dam breach occurred near the town of Mai Mahiu in the Rift Valley, leading to the destruction of homes and the blockage of a road. Authorities had previously reported a total of 76 fatalities in Kenya since March, as the region experiences unusually intense rainfall exacerbated by the El Nino weather phenomenon.
It is worth noting that a similar tragedy occurred in May 2018 when a dam burst in Solai, also located in Nakuru County, resulting in numerous casualties during severe rains and flooding.