By Frank Kamuntu
Atleast six people have been reported dead and one still missing after a tour group was swept away by flash flooding at Hell’s Gate National Park.
The fateful incident that happened on Sunday September 1st occurred at Hell’s Gate National Park in the Rift Valley region, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said on its Twitter account.
“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.” KWS tweeted on Monday.
The group included five Kenyan tourists, a local guide and a non-resident whose nationality was not disclosed.
KWS said the gorge in the park was closed to the public on Sunday after the incident.
Two survivors from the group alerted park rangers, who sent out a search party.
The park is famous for its steam plumes from geothermal activity under its ground, and in areas adjacent to it, the steam is harnessed to generate electricity.
Established in 1984, the park is home to three geothermal stations.
Gorge in the park are prone to flash floods and have in the past killed visitors. In 2012, floods killed seven who were part of a church group on a trek.
Hell’s Gate is around 100km northwest of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, and just south of Lake Naivasha.
