Grief has taken over family and friends in Kisauni, Mombasa county as they try to understand how a play session could have ended up claiming the life of a four year old girl.
A seven year-old boy had a brush with death, having survived the same accident that claimed his playmate after the ground they were playing on sunk.
The sinking was as a result of internal seepage from a nearby manhole, following the ongoing heavy rains in the county.
A report by The Nation indicates that the two children were playing hide and seek at around 1 pm when tragedy struck.
Neighbors who heard screams started frantic efforts to rescue the children who were partially covered in dirt, trapped inside the 10 feet hole.
The girl however, had died by the time the rescuers reached her.
The surviving boy was taken to Joacham Hospital for treatment.
Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba called on the Government to put stiff penalties in place, to curb the illegal drilling of manholes which end up being a risk.
Residents who say the manhole has not been repaired or fortified since it was made 15 years ago, also demanded action to prevent more accidents of the kind.
