Roundup: Death toll rises to 9 as heavy rains pound Kenya's coastal region

At least three more people were killed in the coastal city of Mombasa on Tuesday following heavy rains pounding the region, bringing death toll to nine after six died on Monday.

Changamwe police commander Peter Omanwa said a father and daughter were killed while the mother was seriously injured during the incident. She is currently admitted at Coast provincial general hospital's Intensive care Unit (ICU).

"The wall collapsed on their house killing the two on the spot, the mother was rescued and rushed to hospital in critical condition," said the police commander. Omwanwa said one more person as swept away by floods.

The incident occurred just hours after County Government issued an alert of possible mudslides and more flooding in the county.

County Secretary Francis Thoya warned residents residing in areas prone to mudslides to move to safer ground. Thoya identified Changamwe, Mikindani and Jomvu as likely areas to be affected during ongoing heavy rains.

Omanwa said several houses have been submerged due to landslide as result on heavy rains witnesses in Mombasa County. He said the police and Red Cross are assessing the situation amid fear that death toll might rise.

On Monday, four children were among six people killed after a wall collapsed on a semi-permanent structure in Mbaraki area, Kizingo. The six were sheltering from heavy rains when the wall caved-in and buried them alive inside the structure.

The bodies were retried and transferred to the Pandya private hospital mortuary as police launched investigations.

Thoya said they had set up an emergency rescue team to assist victims due to the heavy rains that have made many roads inaccessible.

Residents are accusing County Government of failure to address the drainage system that has resulted into an outbreak of diseases.

Meanwhile, thousands of commuters and motorist were on Tuesday stranded after Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) suspended operation indefinitely due to heavy rains pounding the coastal region.

KFS suspended services at busy Likoni channel after one ferry MV Nyayo with commuters on board was pushed by heavy tides off the Likoni channel towards the deep sea.

"Ferry services were suspended due to high tides. We are only ferrying few passengers we anticipate delays," KFS Managing Director Bakari Gowa said.

Efforts by the Kenya Ports Authority tower boat to push it to the Island ramps were unsuccessful, but after reinforcement, the ferry was towed to the Island. Endit