At least 20 dead in dam burst in Kenya’s Nakuru county

KENYA: At least 20 people have been killed and several others still missing after a dam burst its banks in Nakuru county some 160km north west of the capital Nairobi.

Local media reports say 20 bodies had been pulled from the scene by early Thursday while others still remain trapped in the black mud after Patel Dam in Solai, Nakuru County broke down.

Residents quoted by the Daily Nation said they heard an explosion before water gushed out of the dam sweeping away homes and causing death in its wake.

Over 300 families had been displaced by Wednesday night and rescue teams called off mission late night to re-start Thursday morning.

Red Cross said 39 people had been taken to hospital by Wednesday night adding several nearby villages had been affected.

Tens of people, including children, are feared trapped in the black mud, the local media reports.

Property worth millions of shillings were destroyed in the burst which is also reported to have destroyed structures within a radius of 3 km. The dam is estimated to have occupied an area of one acre.

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