Six bodies recovered after flash flood in Kenya national park

A tourist who lost his wife and four other family members in a flash flood in Kenya said yesterday the wall of water surged “out of nowhere” as they hiked to a popular gorge. Seven bodies have been recovered since Sunday when floodwaters rushed through Hell’s Gate National Park, a weekend getaway from Nairobi that featured in “Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life”.

Six others from the hiking party of 13 managed to escape. Two other Kenyans -- one a family friend, and another a hiking guide -- also perished. At least two minors were among the dead, a family member said. Ivraj Singh Hayer, who lost his wife, cousin, his cousin’s wife, a niece and a nephew, said it was drizzling when they arrived at the picturesque gorge and their guide advised them to stay at the entrance.

“It’s still difficult for me to understand how exactly this happened. We were trying not to get caught by the water but my family, they were taken one by one”. A police officer taking part in the recovery operation said: “All seven bodies of those swept away have been found.”