2024 Kenya dam failure
| Date | April 29, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Near Nakuru County, Kenya |
| Type | Dam collapse |
| Deaths | 48 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 109 hospitalized |
| Missing | 84 |
On 29 April 2024, a dam failure occurred in Kenya, killing at least 48 people.[1] The dam burst occurred following heavy rains in the previous month that killed over 110 people. Casualties came from the town of Mai Mahiu, where another 84 people were reported missing, and 109 people were hospitalized.[2]
Flood and aftermath[edit]
The affected dam, the Old Kijabe Dam, lies in a region of the Great Rift Valley that is succeptable to flash floods. The collapse caused water to rush downstream. Inhabitants of the town said the flood occurred at night, with water rushing down a hill. It uprooted trees, destroyed homes, swept away the railway line, and disrupted a road that caught vehicles.[3][1] According to the ministry of water, the floods were caused by a river tunnel under a railway embankment becoming blocked with debris, although a burst dam was initially blamed by the police.[1] At least 48 people died and another 84 were missing.[4] Officials said the number of dead is a "conservative estimate" as more bodies were thought to be buried under mud.[5]
Response[edit]
Rescuers sifted through debris to recover survivors in the town of Mai Mahiu, near where the dam collapsed.[6] The injured were treated by medical porsonnel.[7] The Kenya Red Cross said 109 people were hospitalized.[2]
The Red Cross also established a helpdesk for families to locate missing relatives. Some bodies were found stuck in trees while an unknown number were believed to be buried under mud.[8]
To prevent similar disasters, Kithure Kindiki, the interior minister, demanded that all public and private dams and water reservoirs be inspected within 24 hours beginning from the afternoon of 29 April. The nation's highway authority also advised motorists about debris and heavy traffic on roads in the Naivasha and Narok area.[7] On X (formerly Twitter), he said arrests would be made for attempts to cross or transport people across flooded rivers or storm water via unsafe modes.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Flash floods, landslide kill at least 45 in central Kenya | Reuters". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
- ^ a b "At least 45 people die in western Kenya as floodwaters sweep away houses and cars". AP News. 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
- ^ "'Don't know how many under mud': 45 killed as dam bursts in flood-hit Kenya". South China Morning Post. 2024-04-29. Archived from the original on 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
- ^ "With shovels, rescuers search for rising number of Kenya flood victims". Reuters. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Kenya dam burst: Around 50 killed in villages near Mai Mahiu town". 2024-04-29. Archived from the original on 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
- ^ "Scores killed in Kenya after dam bursts following weeks of heavy flooding". Agence France-Presse. 29 April 2024. Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ a b "At least 40 people die in western Kenya after heavy rains cause a dam collapse". Associated Press. PBS News. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Dozens dead after dam bursts amid torrential rain in Kenya". Agence France-Presse. The Guardian. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.