Chopper Deployed To Rescue Tourists Trapped By Floods In 14 Hotels [VIDEO]

The tourists were stranded at over 14 tourist camps in Talek, Narok, after the Talek River broke its banks.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
May 1, 2024 - 18:08
0
Chopper Deployed To Rescue Tourists Trapped By Floods In 14 Hotels [VIDEO]
Aerial view of the flooded Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya as of May 1, 2024. /BBC

The Kenya Red Cross has confirmed that it is conducting a search and rescue operation in collaboration with the County Government of Narok and the Mara Elephant Project following reports of tourists marooned in floodwaters at the popular Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

The tourists, according to a statement by Kenya Red Cross on Wednesday, May 1, were stranded at over 14 tourist camps in Talek, Narok, after the Talek River broke its banks.

"Collaborating with the National and County Government of Narok, the Mara Elephant Project and community members, we have rescued 36 people by air and another 25 through an aqua rescue team," the leading humanitarian organization stated while sharing a clip of chopper surveillance being conducted over the vast reserve.

In some camps, tents were swept away, and the Mara Bridge, linking the Mara Triangle and the Greater Mara, was washed away.

Several Maasai Mara Game Reserve hotels, lodges and camps at the reserve were submerged after Talek River burst its banks following heavy rainfall on Tuesday night, April 30.

Chief Park Warden Stephen Minis confirmed that the floods being experienced in different parts of the country affected the tourist destination as well.

The situation was made worse by waters flowing from the Mara River, near the Serengeti-Tanzania border, following days of rainfall in the area.

"After several days of continuous rainfall, our rivers have swollen, impacting several camps and areas in the Maasai Mara National Reserve," the Narok county government said in a statement.

Roads and bridges have also been submerged by the raging waters, affecting local communities.

Many foreign and local tourists visit the reserve to see its wildlife, including lions, leopards and cheetahs.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom (UK) updated its travel advisory to Kenya due to the ongoing floods, warning its citizens on the dangers of visiting Kenya right now and urging them to exercise caution.

"Avoid walking, swimming, or driving through floodwater, plan your journeys carefully and make sure to follow local guidance," the advisory read in part, adding "Consider contacting your accommodation provider before you travel to check that access is possible."

Earlier, Tourism Cabinet Secretary (CS) Alfred Mutua urged all hotels and camps adjacent to rivers within national parks and reserves to prepare for potential evacuations should rivers overflow and develop clear evacuation, transportation, and hospitality protocols. 

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua holds a meeting with representatives of employment agents who recruit Kenyans for jobs in Saudi Arabia and other regions on Monday, October 31, 2022. /FACEBOOK.ALFRED MUTUA