Flash floods kill 5 Indian tourists in Kenya's Hell's Gate
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E-mail Xinhua, September 2, 2019
NAIVASHA, Kenya, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Five Indian tourists and a Kenyan tour guide were killed when their van was swept away by raging floods in Kenya's tourist resort town of Naivasha on Sunday, the police said.
Rift Valley regional police commander Marcus Ochola confirmed the incident at the Hell's Gate National Park.
"The guides did not read the weather of the surroundings. They know the killer waters usually originate from the highlands but didn't read this. We are there searching for possible survivors," Ochola told Xinhua.
Residents said one of the survivors alerted officers from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) manning the park, after managing to escape from the raging floods in the gorges.
According to authorities, the incident occurred at around 4 p.m., after rains pounded the areas of Mt. Longonot and Kingdom.
Ochola said search and rescue efforts were underway but water levels were high in the gorges, slowing down the process.
He said more police officers have been deployed to the park to join the search and rescue team.
The ministry of tourism and wildlife said unknown number of tourists are feared to have drowned in flash floods while others survived.
"It is with deep sorrow that we announce a tragedy this evening in Hell's Gate National Park in Naivasha in which an unknown number of tourists are feared to have drowned in flash floods while others survived," the ministry said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
"The ministry of tourism and wildlife is coordinating government agencies in a search and rescue operation. Our hearts and prayers are with family and loved ones of those who died in the tragedy," it added.
The latest incident came hours after the body of a woman of Asian origin was recovered at Suswa town located in northwest Kenya.
In April 2012, seven members of a Nairobi church youth group perished after they were swept away by flash floods.
The Hell's Gate National Park lies to the south of Lake Naivasha and it is known for its scenic features. Enditem
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