Six confirmed dead as wedding turns tragic in Mombasa

A wedding in Mombasa County turned tragic after six people died after falling into a septic tank at the venue of the ceremony on Saturday evening.

Three of the six victims – five minors and one adult – were confirmed dead at the scene while three others succumbed to their injuries at the Coast General Hospital on Sunday.

Two other victims who were retrieved from the sewage tank are admitted at the hospital in critical condition.

According to Kisauni OCPD Christopher Rotich, the eight, who were attending the wedding at Kagunjo village in Mshomoroni, were standing on the cover of the 95-feet deep sewage tank before it caved in at around 7 pm.

Eyewitnesses said over 10 people were standing on the pit taking photos before it caved in.

It took rescue officers from the Mombasa County Government and the Kenya Red Cross Society over five hours of attempts to retrieve the 95-feet deep hole.

A local headman, Joseph Dengea, said the heavy downpour that had been experienced a few days prior altogether with the weight of the victims could have caused the collapse of the tank’s cover.