ALBAWABA - Local Kenyan authorities announced that a dam collapsed tragically killing at least 42 people, while search and rescue efforts continue in the devastated area.
"Forty-two dead, it's a conservative estimate. There are still more in the mud. We are working on recovery," said the governor of Nakuru County, Susan Kihika.
The dam burst in the Rift Valley settlement of Mai Mahiu, destroying homes and cutting off a route. Previously, officials reported that 76 people had died in Kenya since March as heavier-than-usual rains hit East Africa, triggered by the El Nino weather pattern.
Video footage uploaded online and broadcast on television showed the crammed boat sinking, with people shouting as others watched in fear. On Saturday, officials reported that 76 people have died in Kenya since March.
According to government estimates issued Saturday, flash floods have swamped roads and neighborhoods, displacing more than 130,000 people and over 24,000 houses, many of whom live in the capital Nairobi.
Schools have been forced to remain closed following mid-term holidays after the education ministry said Monday that they will be postponed by one week due to "ongoing heavy rains".
"The devastating effects of the rains in some of the schools is so severe that it will be imprudent to risk the lives of learners and staff before water-tight measures are put in place to ensure adequate safety," Education Minister Ezekiel Machogu said.
"Based on this assessment, the Ministry of Education has resolved to postpone the reopening of all primary and secondary schools by one week, to Monday, May 6, 2024," he said.
In May 2018, a dam in Solai, Nakuru County, ruptured following intense rains and floods, killing several dozen people.
