Over 70 people have lost their lives and dozens are missing in southern Kenya following the collapse of a dam due to the violent rains that have been affecting the country for weeks. As Nakuru County Governor Susan Kihik told CNN, rescue teams are digging through mud and debris trying to find survivors near Mai Mahiu.
The budget
The death toll could rise, Kihik added: “We are trying to manage the emergency, but the situation is overwhelming. We are doing our best especially to reach those who were taken away because we hope that some are still alive.” It is difficult to reach Mai Mahiu, about fifty kilometers north of the capital Nairobi, as part of the road has been cut off by recent heavy rains. Teams are clearing debris as they try to reach survivors and extract bodies.
Rain and floods
Kenya has been plagued by heavy rains and floods for weeks. According to figures provided by the government, more than 100 people have died in the country and over 130 thousand people have been displaced. The Ministry of Education in Nairobi has postponed the start of the new school semester. “The devastating effects of the rains in some schools are so severe that it would be unwise to risk the lives of students and staff before watertight measures are put in place to ensure adequate safety of all affected school communities,” the Ministry of Education in a note.
