Dam collapse in western Kenya claims at least 48 lives, leaves 49 missing

At least 48 people have died and another 49 are missing after the Old Kijabe Dam near Mai Mahiu in Nakuru County, Kenya, collapsed due to heavy rainfall. The collapse caused severe infrastructural damage including a major road cut-off.

The Old Kijabe Dam located near Mai Mahiu in Nakuru County, Kenya, failed catastrophically in the early hours of Monday morning, resulting in a death toll of at least 48 people. 49 people from 26 families are still missing, as of Monday afternoon. 109 people were rescued and rushed to hospitals, the Kenyan Red Cross reported.

The breach sent a powerful surge of water through residential areas, sweeping away dozens of homes and severing a vital roadway in Kamuchiri village, which has exacerbated the transport and logistical challenges in the area.

Governor Susan Kihika of Nakuru expressed concerns that the number of casualties may rise as rescue and recovery efforts continue in the mud-engulfed areas.

The collapse occurred amid a period of intense rainfall that has plagued East Africa since mid-March. This season’s rainfall has been intensified by the El Niño weather pattern, leading to an unusually harsh wet season. As of the latest reports, the overall death toll for the region during this March-May wet season has risen to more than 120, up from 76 just two days prior, on April 27.

Over 200 000 residents across Kenya have been affected by these conditions, particularly in the capital city of Nairobi, where numerous homes are submerged, forcing inhabitants to seek temporary shelter in educational facilities.

The ongoing crisis has prompted significant disruptions in the education sector, with Ezekiel Machogu, the Education Minister, announcing a postponement of school reopenings. Originally scheduled for early May, the reopening of primary and secondary schools has been delayed by one week to ensure the safety of students and staff amidst the ongoing disaster.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has issued warnings that the heavy rains are expected to persist, urging the public and authorities to remain vigilant.

The broader East African region is similarly afflicted, with neighboring countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi also reporting severe flooding incidents and associated casualties.

Tanzania reported deaths of 155 people while over 200 000 are affected in neighboring Burundi. Uganda has also suffered heavy storms that have caused riverbanks to burst, with two deaths confirmed and several hundred villagers displaced.

Featured image credit: Citizen TV Kenya