| Date | April 29, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Nakuru County, Kenya |
| Type | Dam collapse |
| Deaths | 45 |
On 29 April 2024, a dam failure occurred in Kenya, killing at least 45 people.[1] The dam burst occurred following heavy rains in the previous month that killed over 110 people. Officials said the number of dead is a "conservative estimate" as more bodies were thought to be buried under mud. Rescue efforts began in Mai Mahiu, the affected town.[2] Inhabitants of the town said the flood occurred at night, with water rushing down a hill. It uprooted trees, destroyed homes, swept away the railway line, and disrupted a road that caught vehicles.[3][1]
According to the ministry of water, the floods were caused by a river tunnel under a railway embankment becoming blocked with debris, although a burst dam were initially blamed by the police.[1]
Rescue
Rescuers sifted through debris to recover survivors in the town of Mai Mahiu, near where the dam collapsed.[4]
References
- ^ a b c "Flash floods, landslide kill at least 45 in central Kenya | Reuters".
- ^ "Kenya dam burst: Around 50 killed in villages near Mai Mahiu town". 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
- ^ "'Don't know how many under mud': 45 killed as dam bursts in flood-hit Kenya". South China Morning Post. 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
- ^ "Scores killed in Kenya after dam bursts following weeks of heavy flooding". Agence France-Presse. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.