Twenty feared dead in Kenya landslides
Pastor Dale Morgan
Twenty feared dead in Kenya landslides*
11 Aug 2007 16:35:08 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Jeremy Clarke
NAIROBI, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Up to 20 people are feared dead following
landslides in western Kenya, aid agency Kenya Red Cross said on Saturday.
Red Cross spokesman Tony Mwangi said rescue operations were under way to
recover those buried by a mudslide that struck sleeping villagers at 4
a.m. on Saturday, and a second at 11am that swept away others attempting
to rescue them.
"Twenty six people have been injured, 16 to 20 more have been buried,
houses have been swept away," Mwangi told Reuters, adding that no deaths
had yet been confirmed.
Earlier in the day, local television station NTV quoted witnesses as
saying they had retrieved four bodies.
Kenya's National Disaster Operation Centre said they could not be sure
what triggered the landslide in the rainy region of Kakamega, but said
they were not common.
The Red Cross has evacuated families from the area as rescue efforts
continue.
"We are fearful that rescue operations are under threat from more
mudslides," Mwangi said.