In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a vibrant wedding celebration in Kihunguro, Ruiru, Kiambu County, turned into a scene of unimaginable sorrow as a calamity unfolded, resulting in the loss of at least six lives.
The atmosphere of celebration quickly transformed into one of grief as attendees gathered to celebrate the union of a newlywed couple.
The tragedy occurred on Saturday, August 19, when a group of wedding attendees were joyfully singing and dancing atop an underground water tank.
The lid of the concrete tank gave way under the weight of the dancers, leading to a catastrophic collapse that plunged them into the water beneath.
Among the victims were both adults and children, their lives tragically cut short by the unforeseen mishap.
Police authorities confirmed the incident, recounting how the wedding group had converged at a residence for the celebratory occasion.
While the group danced with jubilation on the tank, the cover’s collapse unleashed a distressing scene of drowning.
Witnesses and bystanders sprung into action, attempting to rescue those in peril. However, despite their swift efforts, one child lost their life on the spot, and the remaining victims were hurriedly transported to Ruiru Hospital.
Tragically, five more lives were lost upon their arrival at the medical facility, underscoring the gravity of the incident.
In a testament to the community’s solidarity and compassion, the Kiambu Fire Service’s rapid response unit was deployed to rescue those trapped within the submerged tank.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi extended his heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the incident.
He shared, “An underground water tank collapsed at Kihunguro near the administrative police post in Ruiru sub-county. Friends and family were celebrating a wedding when the tank collapsed with about 30 people inside.”
