- Jay Bahadur Aley, an employee at a local gas company, met with a fatal fate on Tuesday night.
- Despite extensive efforts, authorities were still engaged in a search for Aley's body on Wednesday, May 8.
Image: STAR
Tragedy struck at the shores of the Indian Ocean in Vipingo, Kilifi County, as a Nepalese national lost his life in a worrying incident.
Jay Bahadur Aley, an employee at a local gas company, met with a fatal fate while capturing selfies on Tuesday night.
Alongside his friend and colleague, Aley was strolling along the ocean's edge when the unfortunate incident occurred.
The colleague told police Aley slipped into the water drowning before being swept away by strong waves.
Despite extensive efforts, authorities were still engaged in a search for Aley's body.
Authorities had advised locals to avoid the ocean following an alert of strong waves triggered by Cyclone Hidaya.
Police said they were investigating the incident.
Officials are still warning against beach events because of the strong and dangerous waves and heavy rains being experienced.
The meteorological department has warned of landslides and flooding in some areas following heavy rains that have displaced thousands and suspended many other activities.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said the number of people affected by rains stands at 293,661 while 54,837 households have been displaced as of May 8. Mwaura said another 188 people have been injured.
The death toll is expected to rise as more bodies are being collected.
"We are equally saddened by the rising death toll and we send our sincere condolences to the affected families," Mwaura said.
Mwaura said infrastructure has been hit hard with significant damage to railway lines and many roads are now impassable.
He revealed the government is meanwhile mobilising nearly Sh4 billion to support recovery and relief efforts.
Health services have also been severely impacted, with 61 health facilities compromised across 11 counties.
As a result, Mwaura said 44 cholera cases have been reported so far in Tana River and Marsabit counties where Ministry of Health and Red Cross officials are conducting outreach programmes to stop the spread of the outbreak.
“In response to the crisis, the government is actively implementing waterborne disease control initiatives, including efforts to manage cholera outbreaks,” Mwaura said.
He said ongoing repairs to damaged infrastructure are expected to continue through the end of May.