Nation Correspondent
8 April 2006
Nairobi — One more person died and three others were missing yesterday as floods continued to ravage parts of Isiolo District. At least 10 people have been reported dead following three days of heavy downpour.
Thousands of livestock that were yet to recover from the devastating effects of drought were swept away by floods in Sericho division.
Game parks in Isiolo and the neighbouring Samburu were also affected, with reports of wildlife being swept away by the raging Ewaso Nyiro River near Archers Post.
Mr Osman Somo was confirmed dead at Modogashe trading centre. The three others were reported missing in Gafarsa and Malkadaka.
Modogashe ward councillor Hussein Ali yesterday said Somo, 57, was swept away by raging floods as he tried to cross a seasonal stream on Thursday night.
Rescuers looking
In Malkadaka and Gafarsa, leaders said rescuers were still looking for the three people reported missing.
Councillors Diba Hafura and Dabaso Ali, who spoke to the Nation on the telephone from the town of Garbatulla, said the road to the two trading centres was impassable.
The two centres, on the eastern bank of Ewaso Nyiro, have no communications links and can only be reached by helicopter. A military chopper scheduled to reach there on Thursday had not arrived by yesterday.
District Officer Isaiah Tonui told the press in Isiolo Town that the rescue mission by air was being coordinated from Nairobi by the Department of Special Programmes.
Travellers have been stranded for the past four days on the Moyale-Marsabit road, impassable following heavy rains.
Moyale District Officer John Kanjo expressed fears yesterday that the victims could run out of food and clean water, but assured them hope was on the way.
Those stranded were travelling in a bus and 20 lorries when a stretch of road was swept away.
Mr Kanjo said the ministry of Public Works was repairing the 300-metre section.
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