35 killed in dam failure in southern Kenya

Nairobi: At least 35 people were killed in a dam failure in southern Kenya, following weeks of heavy rains and devastating floods which caused homes and vehicles to wash away and damage to infrastructure.

Rescue teams are digging through the mud and debris, in an attempt to find survivors near the Mai Mahiu area, warning that the death toll may rise significantly.

Reaching the Mai Mahiu area, located 20 miles north of the capital, Nairobi, was difficult because part of the road was cut off due to heavy rains. Rescue teams were removing the rubble and trying to reach the survivors and recover the bodies.

The accident comes at a time when floods have submerged large areas of Kenya, killing at least 103 people, and displacing thousands of residents from their homes since March 2024.

Rainfall has increased over the past week, leading to floods in the country. Heavy rains in East Africa have also affected Tanzania and Burundi.