About 50 individuals have lost their lives in Kenya after a dam overflowed its banks following intense rainfall and flooding, as reported by a Red Cross official.
In villages close to Mai Mahiu, approximately 60km (37 miles) from Nairobi, residents were swept away in their sleep by the deluge. Rescue operations are underway to extricate people from the mud, with concerns mounting over the potential rise in casualties.
The past month has witnessed more than 100 fatalities due to floods wreaking havoc in various parts of Kenya. The catastrophe unfolded when a burst dam upriver in the Mai Mahiu area unleashed a torrent of water, awakening locals to the harrowing sound in the early hours of Monday.
Residents recounted a night of frantic endeavors to rescue those trapped in the raging floodwaters and free them from the clinging mud.
The Kenya Red Cross has mobilized search and rescue missions, with emergency response manager Anthony Muchiri describing the situation as the most severe he has encountered in his career. Homes and their foundations were not only swept away, but lives were also tragically lost.
Among the recovered bodies, 17 were children, according to police commander Stephen Kirui.
The villages of Kamuchiri and Kianugu bore the brunt of the disaster. Witnesses described the rapid onslaught of water from the Old Kijabe Dam, washing away numerous residences and vehicles, and leaving devastation unprecedented in the area.
Residents like Peter Muhoho shared accounts of neighbors being swept away, recounting the tragic loss of lives and possessions amidst the chaos.
The aftermath left many displaced, uncertain of where they would find shelter for the night, while others attempted to salvage what little they could from the mud-soaked ruins of their homes.
With forecasts predicting further rainfall, the government has postponed the reopening of schools across Kenya, as more than 130,000 individuals remain displaced, seeking refuge in schools.
Neighboring Tanzania and Burundi have also been pummeled by heavy rains, resulting in significant casualties and displacement.
The convergence of a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and El Niño weather patterns has exacerbated the situation, leading to extreme rainfall in East Africa, reminiscent of historical flooding disasters in the region.
