Flash floods swept through villages near Mai Mahiu in Kenya, in the early hours of Monday, April 29, following excessive rainfall in the area.
It has been reported by several news outlets that so far at least 50 people have lost their lives in the areas near Mai Mahiu, which is located about 60 kilometers away from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.
The flood originated from River Tongi and developed into a debris flow carrying trees, mud and rocks in its path.
Police representatives initially attributed the incident to bursting of the Old Kijabe dam, which is a naturally formed hillside barrier next to the river, that was formed over the decades after nearby railway construction.
Later, the Kenyan ministry of water, sanitation and irrigation stated that there is no dam located in the area and that the event was caused due to a clogged tunnel, which is channeling River Tongi under the railway lines.
Kenya has received more than average rainfall during this year’s wet season, which has so far caused more than 100 people to lose their lives from flooding in 2024.
Finally, it is worth noting that the same has happened in more East African countries, such as Tanzania and Burundi.
Sources: www.bbc.com, www.theguardian.com, news.sky.com, www.aljazeera.com, www.france24.com
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