Wangari Njuguna and Atieno Akumu @PeopleDailyKe
The search for an 80-year-old woman reportedly swept off by a landslide on Tuesday evening in Murang’a has intensified. Tabitha Njeri’s neighbours said she was last seen in her home before it was washed away by a landslide that occurred on Tuesday evening.
The landslide, which left five families homeless and destroyed hundreds of tea bushes, is feared to have buried the elderly woman alive. Esther Wanjiru, one of the affected residents, said the incident happened as she was picking tea in her farm.
“I heard earth tremors before I saw trees falling and the houses being swept away,” she said, visibly still terrified. Wanjiru, who is Njeri’s grand-daughter, said she left her grandmother at home doing her house chores. She expressed fears that she may have been buried alive because they are yet to trace her.
In recent weeks, the area has been experiencing a heavy downpour which may have triggered the landslide. “We have been noticing continuous cracks in our farms but we ignored. We never imagined it would be the cause of such a tragedy,” she added.
The county director of meteorology Paul Murage said they had issued warning to those living in landslide prone areas to relocate to safer grounds. He said the meteorological department is on high alert.
Meanwhile, Mombasa County government has set aside Sh20 million to mitigate the effects of heavy downpour being experienced in the area. County secretary Francis Thoya said the amount is part of the Sh70 million Emergency Fund from last year’s financial year.
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