Tragically, a total of 42 individuals have lost their lives due to massive floods in the Mai Mahiu area of central Kenya. The catastrophic event occurred following the bursting of a dam early on Monday.
Kenya, located in East Africa, is currently struggling to cope with continuous heavy rainfall and ensuing floods.
Confirmation of the incident came from Susan Kihika, the governor of Nakuru County, who expressed her sorrow at the loss of lives.
Providing insight into the dire situation, the governor stated, “Forty-two casualties have been reported, but this number could rise as more individuals are believed to be trapped in the mud. Our efforts are focused on carrying out rescue operations.”
The dam rupture near Mai Mahiu in the Rift Valley region resulted in the destruction of homes and the closure of a major road.
Authorities had previously indicated that a total of 76 people have lost their lives in Kenya since March due to the unrelenting heavy rains in East Africa, worsened by the impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon.
It is worth noting that a similarly tragic event occurred in May 2018 when a dam failed in Solai, which is also in Nakuru County, amidst severe rainfall and flooding.