Raging floods sweep away vehicles in Marsabit
What you need to know:
- Mr Kogo urged travellers to exercise caution when crossing swollen rivers.
- Mr Abdub Guyo, the driver of a lorry, and Mr Adano Guracha managed to swim to safety while a female passenger, Mrs Sori Godana, was rescued.
- Police boss Tom Odero urged motorists to avoid attempting to cross swollen rivers and until water levels subside.
- He further asked authorities to erect better and stronger bridges.
Eleven people have escaped death narrowly after the vehicles they were traveling in were swept away by raging floods in two separate incidents in Marsabit County.
According to Marsabit County Police Commander Ben Kogo, the 11 were traveling to different destinations when the incidents happened.
“Three people swam to safety at Balal river in North Horr after their vehicle was swept away at midnight,’’ he said.
In the second incident Mr Kogo said eight travellers headed to Laisamis from Korr had their journey cut short after their vehicle was swept away at around 11am.
“All the eight passengers on board are safe and without injuries. I have spoken to them severally but their vehicle is still submerged in the water. We have sent a response team to try and pull it out,’’ the police boss told the Nation by phone.
He urged travellers to exercise caution when crossing swollen rivers.
SWAM TO SAFETY
Mr Abdub Guyo, the driver of a lorry, and Mr Adano Guracha managed to swim to safety while a female passenger, Mrs Sori Godana, was rescued by members of the public and officers from North Horr Police station at around 4.30am Monday.
Police boss Tom Odero said: "We received the report at around 1am but there were no injuries. At times we are heavily affected by the water path followed by rains from Ethiopia. It can be dry and dusty here but flash floods all over when it rains."
Mr Odero said last week, an officer died after a DCI vehicle was carried by floods following a heavy downpour near Monday's scene.
The police boss urged motorists to avoid attempting to cross swollen rivers and until water levels subside.
He further asked authorities to erect better and stronger bridges.
Most parts of the country continue to receive heavy rainfall that left behind a trail of death and destruction.