A search and rescue operation has been launched to retrieve two people after raging floods swept away the car of an Isiolo Member of the County Assembly.
According to reports, the Toyota Prado, which belongs to Oldonyiro MCA David Lemantile, was swept away by flash floods last night with three occupants on board.
While the MCA was not part of the trio, his vehicle was carried away by the waters at the KMC Bridge while the occupants were heading to Isiolo from the Kipsing area. However, during the incident, the third occupant successfully escaped through the vehicle's window.
Moments after receiving an alert about the tragedy, police officers from the Isiolo Police Station rushed to the scene and managed to retrieve the car. However, they could not trace the missing duo.
The floods, which began yesterday night following a heavy downpour in the area, have since resulted in the displacement of more than 200 families in the Soko Mjinga area of Isiolo County.
Addressing journalists on Saturday, April 19, a resident revealed that an ongoing search was underway to trace a missing child who was swept away by the floods.
"When the floods were flowing, a child was spotted inside the floodwaters. The child was not saved immediately because it was assumed that the child had already succumbed," noted the resident.
In a separate incident, a lorry ferrying goods was swept away by floodwaters while attempting to cross the Majimoto River in Mogotio, Baringo County, on Saturday morning.
Witnesses reported that the incident occurred following heavy rainfall upstream, which caused the river to overflow its banks, resulting in flooding within the area.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Meteorological Service on Friday, April 18, cautioned Kenyans living in various parts of the country to brace for heavy rains during this Easter weekend.
In his weekend weather advisory, Kenya Met Director General David Gikungu said heavy rains were expected in several regions, including the Highlands East, the Rift Valley, Lake Victoria Basin, the South-eastern Lowlands and the Coastal region.
According to Gikungu, mornings in most parts of the areas were likely to be cloudy, paving the way for heavy rains in the afternoon that would be accompanied by thunderstorms.
