This archive report was first published on 2 September 2019.
At least six people have lost their lives in flash floods at Hell's Gate National Park in Nakuru County, with one tourist still unaccounted for.
According to a report from the rescue team of police and rangers from Kenya Wildlife Services, two more bodies were recovered on Sunday night and two others on Monday morning.
“Six bodies of the flash flood victims have been recovered, leaving one tourist missing,” KWS said in a tweet on Monday.
The search and rescue operation continues as we reach out to next of kin to share details of the sad incident and plan together next course of action,” KWS added.
Police said the seven victims were in a group of 13 local and foreign tourists on an excursion inside the Ol-Jorowa Gorge.
The victims include five Kenyans of Indian origin, a Maasai tour guide, and a foreigner whose citizenship is yet to be revealed.
Those who escaped include Ivraj Singh Hayer, Jesica Sambhi, Robert Ombaga, Daniel Ongesa, Clare Wambui, and Sammy Kisotu.
Hell's Gate National Park, which was established in 1984, has experienced flash floods in the past due to its unique geography.
Even when it has not rained, water from other regions of Nyandarua and Nakuru counties flows to the gullies in Hell's Gate in huge volumes.
As recently as 2012, eight members of a Nairobi church youth group were swept away by flash floods.
