Two dead, four missing after three homes are swept away by landslide in Murang'a

Two people have died and four others missing after a three houses were swept away by a landslide in Kiganjo village, Mathioya Subcounty in Murang’a County on Sunday night.

This follows heavy rainfall that hit most parts of the county from Sunday and going into the night.

According to Murang’a County Disaster manager Bilha Wanjiku, a man and three of his children are still unaccounted for, and are feared trapped inside the debris.

Four others escaped unhurt while two were rushed to health facilities for treatment after being rescued.

“The landslide affected four acres of land and an unknown number of livestock. Rescue operations are still ongoing,” Wanjiku said.

 In 2018, a similar landslide killed four people in Inoi village, Kahuro Subcounty, after sweeping away a home as a family slept at night.

In yet another incident, 50 families were left homeless and one person killed after a landlside swept away three farms in Gitugi area in Mathioya Subcounty.

The heavy rains left many in apprehension as cracks appeared in farms in numerous areas, making them uninhabitable.

In 2016, the body of a 86 years woman was found after 18 days after an intensive search through debris following a landslide that swept away her home.

The search was conducted by a multi-agencies team as the government provided three excavators clear debris and families living in adjacent farms moved to Mariira agricultural centre.

 Last week, Murang’a County director of meteorology Anthony Kinyua urged locals to be on the look out for earth movements as heavy rains continue.

Kinyua said the heavy rains are expected to peak this month, noting that the county was experiencing above average rainfall and that soils were fully saturated.