Kenya Red Cross Rescuers Save 7 People Swept In Makueni River On Sand Truck

• The emergency response team from both the Makueni county government and the Kenya Red Cross managed to salvage a host of people swept by floodwaters while crossing a river
• The victims were onboard a lorry loaded with sand when it was swept while crossing the submerged River Kwa Muswii in Sultan Hamud
• Those rescued were taken to the hospital as the search for the remaining victims continued on the evening of Friday, April 26

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Makueni: The Kenya Red Cross has said seven people have been rescued from River Kwa Muswii.

A truck loaded with sand and a group of people on it was swept by the raging floodwaters as its driver strived crossing a submerged bridge on the river the Kasikeu area of Sultan Hamud.

Efforts by Makueni county gov't

In an update, the humanitarian agency revealed those rescued were rushed to the hospital as the search for the other scores of people continued.

"Seven individuals rescued, promptly taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital following the incident. Our response efforts remain ongoing," said the Kenya Red Cross on X (previously Twitter).

The rescue operations were concerted efforts by the Kenya Red Cross and the emergency response team from the Makueni county government.

The county government sent a team of divers and health workers to complement the efforts of Red Cross responders.

It urged the constituents to be careful when crossing swollen rivers during the rainy season, providing 0715486141 as the line to channel emergencies.

How Makueni truck incident happened

The driver of the truck had braved himself to make it through the flooded river oblivious to the imminent tragedy.

He would ultimately fail to control the heavy vehicle in the face of the heavy currents that overpowered it.

The lorry was swept, decanting all its load -sand and passengers- to the river. All the while, curious onlookers followed distantly and keenly before they started ululating on the lorry's family to withstand the currents.

TUKO.co.ke had earlier reported that the rescue efforts successfully retrieved two women.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that over 10 drowned, while the fate of the remaining passengers remained uncertain.

Kenyans on social media condemned the driver and passengers for risking their lives.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.