Ambulance crew drown after rescuing patient, death toll rises

A driver and a nurse are feared dead after their ambulance was swept away by floods in Doldol, Laikipia North.

The ambulance, belonging to the Laikipia County government, was swept 300 metres downstream by floods.

At the same time, a woman and her seven-year old child are among five people reported to have been swept away by floods in Isiolo town.

John Sarioyo, the ambulance driver and Mary Chebet, a nurse, were returning to Doldol township from Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital where they had taken a woman who developed complications while being treated at the Doldol District Hospital.

“While heading back to Doldol, they discovered River Loisokut had swollen. However, the driver went ahead and attempted to cross it,” Laikipia County Executive for Health Njoroge Wangui said.

Drove across

Mr Francis Mepukori, a resident, told The Standard on Sunday that Sarioyo drove across the flooded river but the vehicle got stuck at the banks.

“He called several people while Chebet also telephoned Sarah Gakii, a colleague, informing her that they got stuck in the mud after crossing the river,” he said.

The floods were caused by heavy rains that pounded the upper part of Doldol and the neighbouring Isiolo County.

Mepukori said as the two county workers waited for help, floods pushed the vehicle downstream to a rocky valley.

Wangui said a rescue mission was launched immediately by the public and county officials but the waters were rough.

“They could not find the vehicle until the following day. The occupants may have been hurled outside the vehicle and washed away downstream,” said the county official.

When The Standard on Sunday arrived at the scene, we found a long queue of vehicles waiting for water to subside before attempting the crossing.

Mr Anthony Kuria, a Red Cross official, said the search team had covered more than 50 kilometres downstream and were yet to trace the bodies.

“We have received aerial support from a private helicopter services company which directed us to a dam around Kipsing area in Isiolo County and that is where we are heading,” said Kuria. The incident occurred a week after a woman drowned as she attempted to cross at the same spot. Kuria said the woman’s body has not been recovered.

And in Isiolo, a woman and her seven-year-old child are among five people reported to have been swept away by floods in the county.

It is feared the death toll could hit eight after some families reported to police that three of their kin were missing throughout Friday night.

There have been heavy rains in the areas made worse by run-off from Mt Kenya region.

Natural course

“The damage was largely caused by floods following heavy rains in Timau and Subuiga in Meru County. Isiolo lies on a low altitude and water is bound to follow its natural course,’’ said Lordman Lekalkuli, the County El-Nino Taskforce chairman.

Yesterday, Isiolo Deputy County Commissioner Kipchumba Rutto maintained that only four people have died.

“My younger brother is a miraa seller and was last seen at home when the floods had subsided but he in no where to be seen,” said Yassin Huka, a resident of Bulapesa estate. Mr Rutto said the woman and her child were swept away by floods at Ruaraka estate while a third person died at Kambi Juu. A fourth body was collected at Marire area yesterday morning.

“Apart from loss of life, Isiolo town residents have incurred huge losses. Many houses and businesses were submerged in water,” he said.

In the town centre, residents were caught unawares by the rains and were forced to spend the night in lodges since most roads were flooded. “There was water everywhere rising to a height of about a metre. I feared for my life and spent the night at a hotel,’’ said Abdi Abduba, a revenue clerk at the Isiolo County government.

“The whole place is a mess. Chairs have been damaged and guests were very worried. We have to replace the furniture,’’ said a worker at Bomen Hotel.

A three-star hotel within Buffalo Springs lodge had to relocate foreign tourists to a neighbouring facility in Samburu County after Ewaso Nyiro River burst its banks.

Rutto said more than 100 families were displaced by floods.