At least 34 bodies identified as Red Cross, NYS take lead in recovery efforts

Search and rescue team trying to recover the body covered in debris at Kamucira village in Mai Mahiu on April 30, 2024. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Search teams combed gullies, waded through thick mud, wrecked buildings, and even under boulders in a devastated Mai Mahiu town and its environs yesterday, searching for more victims of the Monday floods disaster.

Authorities said massive flooding had killed 48 people, with the toll expected to rise further.

Rescuers drawn from the Kenya Red Cross Society, National Youth Service (NYS), the Nakuru County Disaster Management team and locals combed through widespread debris looking for more victims of the deadly flash flood.

Head of Kenya Red Cross in the South Rift Flex Maiyo said more bodies had been found downstream and the team was working around the clock to retrieve them.

“Recovery operations commenced this morning (Tuesday). There is a lot of debris, boulders and we suspect more bodies are still under the debris,” Maiyo said as he briefed the media on the operation.

The humanitarian agency has registered 293 people as displaced persons, another 84 as missing while 48 have been confirmed dead.

“Some 34 bodies have been positively identified. The remaining bodies are being kept at a local morgue. We have requested for a mobile-refrigerated mortuary to store more bodies,” he said.

The search team is using heavy machinery from NYS to move the debris and clear the boulders to access more bodies that they believe were buried.

Heartbroken residents could be seen digging with their bare hands in search of bodies of their loved ones thought to be trapped in the mud.

Residents tried to come to terms with the damage, fearing the death toll could rise as the search and recovery operation entered the second day yesterday.

And as the exercise stretched to far-flung areas where the floods swept through, two bodies including that of a girl were recovered, inflicting more pain on hopeful relatives.

A few kilometers away at Ume private mortuary, tens of relatives converged at the facility to help identify the bodies of their kin following the Monday morning tragedy.

Residents say the full extent of the damage is not yet clear, and there are fears the death toll could rise as the search-and-rescue operation continues.

With desperation and hopelessness written on their faces, the residents tried to assess the damage caused by the floods.

Occasionally they gathered in small group, discussing in hushed tones, as they speculated on where other missing persons were or if more bodies were trapped under the mountain of debris.

According to Naivasha police commander Stephen Kirui, the search and rescue efforts have transitioned to recovery operation that are being spearheaded by the four teams.

The teams resumed operations after rains eased up in the flood-ravaged area, allowing for search and relief aid operations to continue after one of the deadliest storms since the onset of the long rains.

“The inclement weather has slowed our assessment and rescue operation on the ground, but we are once again back in the full swing,” said Kirui.

Floodwaters engulfed parts of Mau Mahiu town and surrounding areas in the wee hours of Monday morning, ripping apart roads, destroying vegetation and sweeping away homes and those trapped inside.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has extended his condolences and solidarity to the families of the victims and to the people and Government of Kenya.

In a statement, the UN said it has extended support to the government to help those affected by the floods.

The heavy rains began in March and have claimed more than 100 lives.