At least three people, including two children, were killed on Thursday night after a huge tree was uprooted by strong winds and collapsed on a house in Pamba village, Kisumu East Sub-county, during a heavy downpour.
The 7.30pm incident occurred in the Kaulu East location, trapping eight members of one family inside their house, police said.
Confirming the incident, Kisumu East Sub-County Police Commander, Edward Wafula, said officers from Gita Police Station, working with residents and the Kisumu County fire brigade, rushed to the scene and mounted a rescue operation.
“Unfortunately, three family members died after a large tree fell on their house following strong winds during the downpour. Our officers, with the help of the public and county fire brigade, managed to retrieve the bodies and rescue five others,” Wafula said.
The victims, he said, were identified as the homeowner, Gordon Okeyo, aged 60 years, and two minors aged eight and six.
He added that five other family members aged between five and 72 were rescued from the rubble and rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), where they are admitted in critical condition.
Bodies of the three victims were taken to the JOOTRH mortuary awaiting postmortem examinations.
Wafula said investigations into the incident have been launched by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kisumu East, even as residents were urged to take precautions amid ongoing heavy rains and strong winds in the region.
By Chris Mahandara
