Mai Mahiu Flash Floods: Unveiling the Deadly Cause
The Ministry of Water and Sanitation has disclosed the cause of the deadly flash flood in Mai Mahiu, which has taken the lives of 71 people and injured numerous others.
Early Monday morning, water swept away multiple homes, leading to emergency responses from the national and county governments, who have been stationed at the site for the past 24 hours.
In a statement to news outlets, Water Cabinet Secretary (CS) Zechariah Njeru mentioned that the incident occurred due to a blocked tunnel along the railway line, which disrupted the natural flow of water through River Tongi.
“The channel got blocked due to debris, stones, trees, and soil brought about by the heavy downpour in the area thereby preventing water flowing through the River Tongi course and its small tributaries to move downstream,” said Njeru.
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He stated that the river and its tributaries overflowed their banks under high pressure, causing the railway line to be washed away and the water to rush downstream rapidly, resulting in the observed destruction.
Njeru explained that contrary to some reports, there is no dam in the vicinity. The only dam in the area is Matches Dam, which is located upstream and far from the impacted location.
In recent days, heavy rainfall has caused widespread flooding across much of the country, resulting in significant loss of life, injuries, and the displacement of many individuals.
By Monday evening, official data indicated that 166 people had lost their lives due to flooding since heavy rains began across much of Kenya in March.
Residents of flood-prone regions in Kenya are advised to take safety precautions due to potential risks.
Mai Mahiu Flash Floods: Unveiling the Deadly Cause