A dam collapsed in western Kenya early Monday, killing at least 40 people as water slammed over homes and shut off a major route, authorities report. The Old Kijabe Dam, which is located in the Mai Mahiu portion of the Great Rift Valley region and is prone to flash floods, collapsed, causing water to rush downstream, according to police spokesman Stephen Kirui.
Ongoing rains in Kenya have triggered flooding, which has already killed nearly 100 people and delayed school openings. Heavy rains have been hitting the country since mid-March, and the Meteorology Department has warned there is more to come.
The East African region is experiencing floods as a result of the severe rains, with 155 people reported dead in Tanzania and over 200,000 affected in neighbouring Burundi. Kenya's main airport was flooded on Saturday, requiring several planes to be diverted after videos of a flooded runway, terminals, and cargo section circulated online.
More than 200,000 people in Kenya have been affected by the floods, with houses in flood-prone areas inundated and people seeking shelter in schools. President William Ruto directed the National Youth Service to provide land for use as a temporary camp for those impacted.
