A devastating dam failure in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley has resulted in at least 71 fatalities, a number that is predicted to increase as rescue operations continue.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, April 29, when the Old Kijabe Dam, situated in the Mai Mahiu region, overflowed after enduring weeks of intense rainfall and flooding.
Susan Kihika, the Nakuru governor, confirmed to CNN on Monday that the local flooding situation escalated due to a dam break. However, reports from local inhabitants and emergency workers to CNN suggest that the disaster was caused by water coursing through a tunnel beneath a railway bridge where a culvert was blocked.
The dam’s rupture released a torrent of water, mud, and debris downstream, sweeping away homes, vehicles, and people. Residents described the terrifying experience of being roused by a powerful explosion and cries as the floodwaters inundated their homes. “I was asleep when I heard a loud bang and screams. Water had flooded the area,” Peter Muhoho, an inhabitant of the adjacent Kianugu village, recounted.
The floodwaters also submerged a highway, disrupting transportation in one of Kenya’s most active regions and leaving vehicles tangled in the wreckage. Medical personnel treated the injured as search and rescue teams meticulously sifted through the debris for survivors.
“This is the worst I’ve ever come across in my career,” Anthony Muchiri, an emergency response manager with the Kenya Red Cross, commented as rescue operations persisted.
In response, Kithure Kindiki, Kenya’s Interior Minister, mandated a swift inspection of all public and private dams and water reservoirs nationwide, with over 178 liable to “spill over at any time”. He highlighted the immediate need for officials to evaluate the safety of these structures to avert further catastrophes. Kindiki further stressed that if necessary, security and intelligence officials should issue evacuation orders for areas at high risk. “The Government is deeply concerned by the loss of life and destruction of public and private property resulting from the ongoing floods,” Kindiki stated in a social media post.
Since March, Kenya has been battling severe rains and flooding, which have already claimed 228 lives across the nation. The destructive weather patterns have also impacted neighboring East African countries, including Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda, causing hundreds of deaths and displacing thousands.
Heavy rains have been linked to the combined effects of El Niño and an Indian Ocean Dipole, weather phenomena that have led to unprecedented rainfall across the region. These floods started just months after the region began recovering from the worst drought in 40 years, which left millions in need of food and water.
The death toll for Kenya’s March-May rainy season has exceeded 200, with 72 missing and over 212,000 people displaced nationwide. In Tana River County, at least two people died when a boat overturned in the swollen river, while 23 others were rescued. Governor Kihika has been visiting affected areas, underscoring the necessity to drain the water in dams to avoid future disasters.
Weather experts predict the flood crisis will worsen in the coming weeks, with more rainfall expected due to the ongoing El Nino weather pattern. Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General and CEO of the International Federation of Red Cross, said that the immense volume of rain since March has triggered catastrophic floods, river overflows, and mudslides, resulting in over 200 deaths in Kenya alone.
The Kenyan government is mobilizing resources to assist those impacted by the floods, while rescue teams continue their search for survivors in the aftermath of this devastating event.
Located in the eastern part of Africa, the Horn of Africa, which includes countries like Kenya, is among the regions globally most vulnerable to climate-related issues. Other nations, such as Tanzania and Burundi, have also experienced significant effects due to the intense rainfall.
