3 dead, one missing after being swept away by floods in Machakos

By , K24 Digital
On Sat, 27 Apr, 2024 11:45 | 2 mins read
3 dead, one missing after being swept away by floods in Machakos
Rest in Peace signage. PHOTO/Internet

Three people have lost their lives after the car they were travelling in was swept away by floods in Machakos county.

While confirming the incident, Machakos County police commander Patrick Lobolia noted that one person was still missing and a search was underway.

Lobolia stated the incident occurred when the businessman who was driving the car alongside his wife and two other passengers was swept away by the raging waters as they attempted to cross the flooded Manyanzaani River in Kalama to the bridge.

“It was reported by a member of the public and resident of Kwa Kavoo village that yesterday at around 6.45 pm, one businessman at Kwa Kavoo shopping centre was driving home after a heavy downpour," Lobolia stated adding that the matter was reported to their station at 8 pm.

Police retrieved the vehicle with the bodies about 20 metres from the bridge. The bodies were moved to the Machakos Funeral Home pending an autopsy.

Area locals have joined police in searching for the missing body.

Similar incident

The latest comes hours after 6 people died while attempting to cross the flooded Muswii River, in Makueni County.

According to the Kenya Red Cross, the six were among the tens who were aboard a lorry as it attempted to cross the flooded river.

Eleven people were rescued and rushed to the Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital for treatment.

"11 individuals were rescued, and promptly taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital following the incident. Our response efforts remain ongoing," a statement by the Kenya Red Cross reads in parts.

The river flooded after bursting its banks causing traffic disruption along the Kasikeu-Sultan Hamud Road.

A clip of the lorry captured the victims seated on top of it in hopes that they would make it through the waters, unfortunately, the lorry slid into the deep end of the river before it was swept away with the passengers aboard.

The victims attempted to wade through the raging waters but were swept away.

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