Six tourists confirmed dead in Hells Gate flash floods tragedy

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) says six people have so far been confirmed dead after they were swept away by flash floods at Hell’s Gate National Park in Naivasha.

The six were among seven local tourists including a tour guide who were on an excursion at the park when they were struck by floods at around 4pm on Sunday.

A search is ongoing for one more tourist who is still missing.

“Six bodies of the flash flood victims have been recovered, leaving one tourist missing. The search and rescue operation continues as we reach out to next of kin to share details of sad incident and plan together next course of action,” said KWS, in an update on the incident on Monday morning.

The seven were exploring the Ol-Jorowa gorge at Hell’s Gate when they were swept by flash floods.

The Kenya Wildlife Service has since announced the closure of the gorge due to the ongoing rains in the area and its environs.

In 2012, a similar incident was witnessed at Hell’s Gate after seven members of a Nairobi church group drowned in flash floods at Ol-Jorowa gorge.