Kenyan Dam Bursts, Causing Deaths, ‘Huge Destruction’

At least 21 people were killed when a dam in western Kenya’s Nakuru county burst its walls, overrunning nearby homes, the St John Ambulance rescue service said on Thursday.


The dam gave way in Solai, in Nakuru county, 190 kilometers (120 miles) northwest of Nairobi, late on Wednesday, after weeks of heavy rain.

The incident caused "huge destruction" and deaths, a government official said.

"The water has caused huge destruction of both life and property. The extent of the damage has yet to be ascertained," Lee Kinyajui, the governor of Nakuru, said in a statement, Reuters reported.

Private television station KTN News said that 20 bodies had been recovered from the scene so far.

Kenya Red Cross said on Twitter it had rescued 39 people so far.

Kenya, like other countries in East Africa, has experienced heavy rain over the past two months. The government said on Wednesday the rain had killed 132 people and displaced 222,456 in 32 counties since March.  
 (Tasnim)
 10/5/18