Four children drown in Tana River
Four children drown while swimming in Tana River.
What you need to know:
- Elders in the village have termed the incident unfortunate and urged the county administration to fence water pans in the area for people’s safety.
Residents of Haroresa Village in Tana River County are mourning following the death of four children who drowned while swimming.
Galeertu Sub-County Commander David Lawendi said the three girls and one boy were reported missing on Tuesday, prompting the police and villagers search for them.
"They had been spotted at the nearby water pan where they normally draw water. That was the last spot they were seen before they went missing," he said.
Police and residents mounted a search and retrieved two bodies on Tuesday evening before calling off the search.
The search continued on Wednesday at 7am and the two remaining bodies were retrieved.
"The children are aged between 11 and 13 years old. [It is] quite an unfortunate incident at this time of the year," Mr Lawendi said.
He urged parents to watch their children as they play outside and to caution them of any danger nearby.
Mr Lawendi also asked residents not to allow children to draw water from the water pan without adult supervision. "Such places are too dangerous to send children," he said.
Elders in the village have termed the incident unfortunate and urged the county administration to fence water pans in the area for people’s safety.
"If they can also put a tank nearby, then solar to pump water to the tank for residents to draw through a tap, it will save lives. Today its a child, tomorrow it may be an adult," said Abdirahman Shukri.
