At least 6 dead as wedding group drowns in underground water tank

There was a tragedy at a village in Kiambu when a group that was attending a wedding ceremony drowned in an underground water tank as they sang and danced.

Police said the group had arrived at a residence for a wedding ceremony when they stood on the concrete slab of the tank and broke into a dance.

The officers said six of the victims including children died by drowning after the slab caved in with at least 17 people.

The incident happened Saturday morning at Kihunguro, Ruiru, Kiambu County.

Police said the concrete slab caved in under the weight of the group causing the victims to fall into the water tank.

This sent an alarm as those who witnessed rushed to save them. One child died on the spot awhile the other people were rescued and taken to hospital.

Police said five others were confirmed dead on arrival at a hospital in Ruiru.

A team of fire brigade officers from Kiambu rushed to rescue the group that had been trapped in the underground water tank.

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi confirmed the incident.

“An underground tank has caved in at Kihunguro near the Administration Police Post in Ruiru Sub-County. Friends and family were celebrating a wedding when the tank caved in with about 30 people.

“Several of them have been rescued through the effort of the County Government of Kiambu fire brigade and community members. The rescue mission is continuing. We feel sorry for the families who were impacted and wish a quick recovery to the victims,” he said.

The incident sent the wedding into disarray. Police have launched investigations into the tragedy.