A landslide in central Kenya left at least five people missing

At least five individuals have been reported missing in a landslide that occurred in central Kenya as a result of intense rain on Wednesday. The Red Cross has stated that its personnel would support the rescue attempts.

The Kenya Red Cross stated in a post on social networking platform X late on Tuesday that the landslide happened in Kimende Escarpment in Kiambu County, north of the country’s capital, Nairobi.

“The area has been cordoned off and declared a danger zone,” it read.

Walking along a road, Joseph Gitau, a Kimende local, stated that his relative was one of four persons engulfed by the avalanche.

“There were four individuals in total, with three of them significantly ahead of the fourth who was in the rear. Sadly, the earth buried them all,” he said to Reuters.

A second witness, George Kariuki, claimed that although his companion was able to escape, the landslide also struck a motorcyclist.

“The rider of the second motorcycle wasn’t as fortunate as he was caught in the landslide while attempting to turn around. When I noticed that, I screamed for assistance,” Kariuki remarked.

According to the most recent government data, the East African nation’s heavy rains and floods since late March have caused at least 289 fatalities and 285,600 displaced persons.

At least 61 people lost their lives in the bloodiest occurrence, which occurred in late April in the central Kenyan town of Mai Mahiu due to flash floods and mudslides.