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Nairobi, Kenya floods: Dozens killed after dam bursts close to Mai Mahiu as weeks of heavy rain devastate area | The Gentleman Report

Nairobi, Kenya floods: Dozens killed after dam bursts close to Mai Mahiu as weeks of heavy rain devastate area | The Gentleman Report
April 29, 2024


Larry Madowo/The Gentleman Report

A The Gentleman Report crew at the floor in Kenya’s Rift Valley the city Mai Mahiu has noticed overturned automobiles, uprooted bushes and houses which were swept away in mass flooding.

Nairobi, Kenya
The Gentleman Report
 — 

A minimum of 35 other folks had been killed and dozens of others are lacking after a dam burst in southern Kenya, sweeping away houses and automobiles as the rustic grapples with weeks of heavy rains and devastating flash floods.

A The Gentleman Report crew at the floor in Kenya’s Rift Valley the city Mai Mahiu has noticed overturned automobiles, uprooted bushes and houses which were swept away in mass flooding.

The Gentleman Report witnessed injury to one of the crucial affected spaces from flooding in Kenya’s north-western Nakuru county, which spanned a number of kilometers in each and every route. A distraught guy informed The Gentleman Report that he feared a number of of his members of the family have been nonetheless buried below the dust and particles.

Rescue groups are digging throughout the dust and particles looking for survivors close to Mai Mahiu, Gov. Susan Kihika informed The Gentleman Report, caution that the loss of life toll may just upward thrust considerably.

The incident comes as flooding has inundated massive swathes of Kenya, killing no less than 103 other folks and forcing 1000’s of citizens from their houses since March, govt spokesperson Isaac Maigua Mwaura mentioned Monday.

Thomas Mukoya/Reuters

A person makes use of a persist with go a river after heavy flash floods burnt up a number of houses when a dam burst, following heavy rains in Kamuchiri village of Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, Kenya on April 29, 2024.

In Mai Mahiu, Kihika mentioned a significant scenario was once unfolding as floodwaters swept away other folks and houses.

“We’re seeking to get a take care of at the scenario nevertheless it’s a little bit overwhelming however we’re doing the most efficient we will particularly to succeed in those that had been over excited as a result of we are hoping that some are nonetheless alive,” Kihika mentioned.

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Get right of entry to to Mai Mahiu, 20 miles north of the capital Nairobi, were tough as a part of the street were bring to a halt from fresh heavy rains, Kihika mentioned. Groups are clearing particles as they are attempting to succeed in survivors and pull out our bodies, she added.

On Monday, the Kenya Crimson Move Society mentioned a number of other folks have been taken to a well being facility in Mai Mahiu because of the flash floods affecting Kamuchiri village.

“The floodwaters are reported to have originated from a close-by river that broke its banks,” the crowd mentioned.

Kenya has registered heavy rain since mid-March however downpours have intensified over the last week, resulting in mass flooding.

“Kenya is going through a worsening flood disaster because of the mixed results of El Niño and the continuing March-Might 2024 lengthy rains,” IFRC Secretary Basic and CEO Jagan Chapagain mentioned in a submit on X, relating to the weather trend that originates within the Pacific Ocean alongside the equator and affects climate in every single place the arena. “Since November 2023, El Niño induced devastating floods and river overflows, inflicting greater than 100 deaths and popular injury.”

Andre Kasuku/AP

A person is noticed in flood waters close to a submerged church compound, after the River Tana broke its banks following heavy rains at Mororo, Kenya, on Sunday, April 28.

The Horn of Africa, a area of East Africa that comes with Kenya, is without doubt one of the maximum climate-vulnerable areas on the earth — uncovered to more and more common and critical excessive climate occasions.

Whilst rainfall is ready to fall within the area general, as the arena warms, the frequency and depth of utmost rainfall occasions is predicted to extend, as a hotter environment can cling extra moisture.

Edwin Waita/Reuters

A drone view presentations broken homes after heavy flash floods burnt up a number of houses when a dam burst, following heavy rains in Kamuchiri village of Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, Kenya on April 29, 2024.

The fatal rains around the Horn of Africa on the finish of ultimate yr, which killed no less than 300 other folks, have been about two times as intense as they’d had been with out weather trade, in line with a December research from scientists on the Global Climate Attribution (WWA) initiative.

The ones rains adopted years of catastrophic drought, the worst in no less than 4 a long time, which affected many portions of Kenya, killing farm animals and vegetation, and inflicting popular starvation and water lack of confidence. This drought was once made 100 instances much more likely by way of planet-heating air pollution from fossil fuels, an April WWA research discovered.

Thomas Mukoya/Reuters

A view presentations a broken passenger bus caught on a fallen tree after heavy flash floods burnt up a number of houses when a dam burst, following heavy rains in Kamuchiri village of Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, Kenya April 29, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

Some 131,450 other folks had been affected as floods swept via virtually part of Kenya.

Pictures and video from Nairobi, which has been badly impacted, display other folks stranded on rooftops or salvaging what they are able to from houses destroyed by way of the flash floods.

Different video presentations huge flooding across the Tana River, with massive portions of the encircling space underwater. Roads, constructions and automobiles are submerged.

The Ministry of Schooling introduced Monday that every one number one and secondary colleges would delay the beginning of the brand new college time period for one week till Might 6.

On Sunday, the Kenya Crimson Move Society mentioned 23 other folks were rescued and others have been lacking after a ship capsized at Kona Punda whilst heading to Mororo, Tana River County, on Sunday.

As of Friday, the crowd mentioned it has rescued greater than 300 other folks because the onset of the rain in March.

Heavy rains in East Africa have additionally affected Tanzania and Burundi. Tanzanian High Minister Kassim Majaliwa mentioned on Thursday that no less than 155 other folks had been killed by way of flooding within the nation.

The Gentleman Report’s Laura Paddison contributed to this file.

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