A dam has burst in Kenya killing at least 21 people and causing “huge destruction of both life and property”, Kenyan officials confirmed.
The burst happened in Solai near the Rift Valley city of Nakuru, 120 miles northwest of the capital Nairobi, late on Wednesday.
Police chief Gideon Kibunjah said that 36 people have been hospitalised.
People are still unaccounted for and more than 100 homes are affected, including properties on the Nyakinyua Farm that borders the reservoir.
Eyewitnesses at a nearby shopping centre said they heard a huge explosion before water gushed out of the Patel dam, the Kenyan news site Standard Digital reports.
Nakuru governor Lee Kinyanjui said: “We will do our best to take affected families to safety and help them get medical attention.”
The deluge comes after weeks of heavy rain.
The disaster has reportedly caused billions of Kenyan shilling’s worth of damage, with the force of the water levelling nearby structures.
A billion Kenyan shillings is worth roughly £7.3million.
Mr Kinyajui said: “The water has caused huge destruction of both life and property.
“The extent of the damage has yet to be ascertained.”
Kenya Red Cross said on Twitter it had so far rescued 39 people.
