Flash floods and a landslide in central Kenya killed at least 45 people and injured more than 110 others on Monday as floodwaters swept away houses and cars in the town of Mai Mahiu, the government said. Police initially blamed the flooding on a burst dam; However the ministry of water later said it was caused by a river tunnel under a railway embankment becoming blocked with debris.”The water (eventually) swept the railway line and started moving downstream with a very high speed and velocity causing destruction of property and loss of lives,” the ministry said.Two local residents confirmed the water ministry’s account. “While 45 bodies have already been recovered along the path of the flash floods and the landslide, the search, rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing,” interior minister Kithure Kindiki said in a statement.Footage showed a large section of rail track, embankment and trees swept downhill.The deluge cut off a road, uprooted trees, washed away homes and sent vehicles flying.Hours after the rain had let up and floodwaters began to recedes, locals pulled vehicles and household belongings from the mud.Joel Kuria, a farmer, was awoken by screams and the trembling of the house he shares with his wife and two children.”It was very dark, but we managed to leave the house in time before the gushing waters swept away everything including our livestock,” he told Reuters from where he was camped out in the town center. “The grumbling sound was scary and was worsened by screams of victims being washed downstream.” “We heard what sounded like an earthquake and roars like a moving train,” said Margaret Wangechi, a 52-year-old teacher. The deaths have brought the overall toll across Kenya from heavy rains and flooding since last month to more than 140.More than 185,000 people have been displaced.In the capital Nairobi alone, close to 10,000 people have had to leave their homes, President William Ruto told Reuters in an interview, describing all those affected as victims of climate change.Road and Transport Minister Kipchumba Murkomen told reporters said that he feared the death toll in Mai Mahiu would rise further.Dozens more have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced by intense downpours in other East African countries, including Tanzania and Burundi.East Africa was hit by record floods during the last rainy season in late 2023.Scientists say climate change is causing more intense and frequent extreme weather events.
