More than three people are feared dead following a landslide that hit villages in Baringo County, while one other person has been reported missing.
The missing person, a 13-year-old boy has been reported missing after the landslide and floods displaced three families in Baringo on Tuesday, August 6.
Preliminary reports indicate that landslide occurred in Kasisiit and Kabarkoge areas of Baringo North, with witnesses saying that the incident was attributed to heavy rains pounding the region.
Baringo County Commissioner Stephen Kutwa has since confirmed the reports about the missing boy while regretting that the teen could not be accounted for after their house was flattened by a landslide.
“We are yet to establish the whereabouts of the teenager, her mother was rescued, and within the same village two other houses were affected but the occupants are safe,” he said.
Photos seen by The Kenya Times showed residents and teams of police officers who have been deployed in the hilly area rescuing people on site while combing through the debris.
Other photos showed Kenya Red Cross officials and other rescuers on site also combing through the debris.
Baringo Tragedy
Several families have also been reported to have fled from their homes fearing more landslides.
Commissioner Kutwa said that the search and rescue mission commenced Wednesday morning, and they are hopeful that the boy would be found alive.
Further, the County Commissioner noted that the Kabarnet –Tenges Road was cut off on Tuesday evening.
Also Read: FLOODS LIVE UPDATES: Mai Mahiu Flashfloods Death Toll Rises to 42
Nakuru County Commissioner Lyford Kibaara while speaking on May 4, 2024, said the recovery process of an extra body raised the number of confirmed fatalities to 61.
The body was recovered during the mission being led by officers from the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) and National Youth Service (NYS).
On the morning of Monday, April 29, residents of Old Kijabe town and villages within Mai Mahiu were woken up by roaring sounds of raging waters.
Moreover, heavy nightlong rains caused water to accumulate in a blocked railway drainage upstream at Kinale before its walls gave way in the wee hours.
The Water Resources Management Authority (Warma) said contrary to popular belief, the water was not from a burst dam but had collected in the tunnel over time forming a catchment area.
Also Read: Witness Recalls Last Moments of Kimende Landslide That Swept Away His Cousin
Kimende Landslide
Still in May, a landslide that followed heavy rain in central Kenya swept away at least five people in Kimende Escarpment of Kiambu County.
Kenya Red Cross in a statement indicated that several individuals were feared trapped under the debris following the tragedy which happened on May 14, at around 7 PM.
One witness, Joseph Gitau while speaking to the press on May 15, 2024, recalled the last moments before the tragedy revealing that his cousin was among the people who are feared to be trapped following the landslide.
According to Gitau, the four people engulfed by the soil were walking along the road before the incident occurred.
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