The incident comes against the backdrop of a catastrophic landslide in West Pokot which claimed over 60 lives late November/FILE- KENYA RED CROSS
MACHAKOS, Kenya, Nov 2 – A 65-year-old woman died in Kola, Machakos County, on Monday in a first mudslide-related incident in the ongoing October-November-December short rains.
The victim reportedly stuck in mud neck-deep after a dam broke its banks causing and a mudslide following a heavy downpour.
Confirming the incident, Kalama subcounty commissioner, Virginia Njeri, said the deceased was wading in shallow water when she drifted into waterlogged soil.
She is said to have been stuck in the mud for more than an hour without held.
Villagers who spoke to Capital FM News said they saw the woman flailing her arms in a desperate appeal for assistance.
“The woman was on her way to visit her neighbor an hour after Sota dam broke its bank,” said Kalondu Wa Mutie, a neighbor
Kenya Red cross team was enroute to the scene to retrieve the body.
The mudslides were characterized by heavy debris drifts and mudflows from nearby hills.
The incident comes against the backdrop of a catastrophic landslide in West Pokot which claimed over 60 lives late November.
Heavy rainfall has also brought down houses in several parts of the country including Makueni where a Grade II pupil died on Sunday after his family’s house collapse.
The victim’s brother was injured during the incident that occurred at 6am and was rushed to a local hospital.
Makueni county commissioner Mohammed Maalim put the death toll arising from flood-related incidents at three over a period of a month.
About The Author
