A dam collapsed in western Kenya early Monday, killing at least 40 people after a wall of water swept away homes and cut off a main road, police said.
The collapse of the Old Kijabe Dam, in the flash flood-prone Mai Mahiu area of the Great Rift Valley region, caused water to overflow downstream, carrying with it mud, rocks and uprooted trees, an official said. police officer, Stephen Kirui.
Vehicles were trapped in road debris and paramedics treated the injured as water submerged large areas.
Rains in Kenya have caused floods that have already killed almost 100 people and postponed the opening of schools. Heavy rain has been lashing the country since mid-March and the Department of Meteorology has warned of more rainfall.
Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki ordered the inspection of all public and private dams and water reservoirs within 24 hours from Monday afternoon. The ministry said recommendations for evacuations and resettlements would be made after the inspection.
Kenya’s National Highways Authority warned motorists to prepare for heavy traffic and debris blocking roads.
The vast region of East Africa is experiencing flooding due to heavy rains. At least 155 people have reportedly died in Tanzania and more than 200,000 people have been affected in neighboring Burundi.
A boat capsized in Kenya’s Garissa county on Sunday night, and the Kenya Red Cross said it had rescued 23 people but more than a dozen were still missing.
Kenya’s main airport was flooded on Saturday, forcing some flights to be diverted. Videos shared online showed a runway, terminals and a cargo section flooded.
More than 200,000 people across the country have been affected by flooding, with homes in flood-prone areas submerged and people seeking shelter in schools.
President William Ruto has ordered the National Youth Service to provide land for use as a temporary camp for those affected.