Death toll rise to 32 in Kenya's dam tragedy

NAKURU, Kenya -- At least 32 people have been confirmed dead and more than 2,500 others displaced after a dam burst its banks in Nakuru County in northwest Kenya, the police said on Thursday.

Regional criminal investigation commander Gideon Kibunja who confirmed the death toll said several people are still not accounted for after Nakuru's Patel Dam broke its banks.

He said the incident occurred on Wednesday evening, causing extensive damage to homes, schools and businesses.

"The death toll has risen to 32 and many more are still missing," he said by phone.

Rescue operation by people, Kenya Red Cross and Nakuru County disaster management teams went into Thursday morning and more than 40 people have been rescued from the mud and taken to hospitals. Many are feared trapped at the mud as rescue mission goes on.

Nakuru County officials said the dam water and mud spilt out of the reservoir and submerged homes, extending to a radius of nearly two kilometers.

More than 130 people have died in the last two months and more than 220,000 displaced as raging floods wreak havoc across the country.

This comes as weather experts are warning of more heavy rains in the next few days in an unusual departure from traditional weather patterns.

The East African nation has been experiencing unprecedented flooding in recent days as torrential rains pound the country shortly after it had come out of a severe drought season marked by hunger and water scarcity.