NAIROBI, Kenya – A dam collapsed in western Kenya on Monday morning, killing at least 40 people after a wall of water swept away homes and blocked a main road, police said.
The old Kijabe Dam, located in the Mai Mahiu area of the Great Rift Valley region, which is prone to flash floods, collapsed and water spilled down the riverpolice officer Stephen Kirui told the Associated Press.
Continuous rains in Kenya have caused floods that have killed almost 100 people and caused the opening of schools to be postponed.
Heavy rains have been lashing the country since mid-March and the Department of Meteorology has warned of more rain.
The East African region is suffering from flooding due to heavy rains and 155 people have died in Tanzania, while more than 200,000 people are affected in neighboring Burundi.
Kenya’s main airport was flooded on Saturday, forcing some flights to be diverted as videos of a flooded runway, terminals and cargo section were shared online.
More than 200,000 people across the country of Kenya have been affected by the floods, with homes submerged in flood-prone areas and people seeking refuge in schools.
President William Ruto has directed the National Youth Service to provide land for use as temporary camps for those affected.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
