Imminent Masinga Dam disaster causes locals pain
Houses flooded in Minjila, Tana River County, on May 10, 2018. Residents have been asked to relocate to safer areas. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Locals in Garissa, Hola, Garsen and Bura have been urged to move to safer grounds.
Residents of flood-prone areas in Tana River County may not have peace anytime soon after the government said Masinga Dam will burst its banks.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter said that Masinga Dam will start overflowing at anytime.
Mr Keter urged locals in Garissa, Hola, Garsen and Bura to move to safer grounds.
"Masinga is the biggest dam. Already there has been spilling in the other dams such as Kiambere. From anytime between now and Friday the way the weather is we will be expecting Masinga to spill. This is an alert we are raising," he said.
Masinga Dam feeds four other dams downstream, which are already full.
According to Mr Keter, once Kiambere dam overflows, the estimation is that it will take four days for the cascading water to reach Garissa Town and then lower Tana Delta.
Two weeks ago, homes and farms were submerged by water rendering Garissa and Tana River families homeless.
Some residents in Bula Sheikh, Windsor, Bulla Punda, Bulla Iftin, Mororo, Ziwani and Bakuyu have heeded the government's caution.
"We lost property worth millions of shillings last time since the floods caught us unawares and there was no notice given.
"This time I must heed to warning since no one will compensate me if there is any destruction," Windsor resident Hassan Abdi said.
