WATCH: Dramatic helicopter rescue of 8 lorry passengers from floods in Samburu

Eight people were rescued from the early morning flash floods that swept away a lorry in Samburu East.

The eight were rescued by a chopper from the Olmalo ranch, after the lorry they were travelling in got swept away by floods.

Police reports say the driver of the lorry lost control of the vehicle as he attempted to cross Lerata river.

Samburu County police boss David Wambua said the lorry was headed to Wamba from Archer’s post ferrying goods, when the deluge proved too strong for its weight.

The occupants of the lorry sat on the sides of the truck which had tipped over, willing help to arrive hastily.

A chopper from the nearby Olmalo ranch came to the crew’s rescue, and one by one they were plucked from the jaws of death and flown to safety.

The rescue crew endured electric shocks due to a submerged high voltage power line nearby.

The truck was swept away moments after the last person was rescued, a testament to how dangerous the situation was.

In the neighbouring Isiolo County, it was end of the road for an ambulance that was ferrying an expectant mother to hospital, due to flash floods from overnight rains that have rendered the roads impassable.

NRT, in partnership with Lewa, organised emergency evacuation by air from Garbatulla sub-county hospital to the Isiolo County Referral Hospital.

NRT Operations Director Osman Hussein said; “Tuliweza kujulishwa hii incident leo asubuhi ya huyu mama na tukashirikiana na Lewa sababu ndio wako na helicopter.

Haikuwa rahisi hata kupanda juu sababu ilikua ngumu kuona lakini tukaomba Mungu sababu ile tulikuwa tunataka kuenda kufanya ni kwenda kuokoa maisha ya huyo mama na mtoto. Tumeshukuru tumeweza kufanya hivyo.”

In Shambani village in Isiolo North, a 20-year-old man was swept away by River Isiolo as he attempted to cross on a motorbike.

Isiolo North sub-county Police Commander William Kiambi said the deceased was among two other people on the motorbike.

The other two were rescued and search operations are ongoing to recover the body and the motorcycle.

Another man was swept away by floods at Ikamate bridge in Ndoleli area connecting Igembe North and Igembe Central in Meru County due to heavy downpours witnessed in the area over the last four days.

Residents are now asking the government to construct a new bridge as the collapsed one poses a danger to many especially children during the rainy season.

The Meteorology department has forecast heavier than normal rainfall across the country in the next 24 hours, with above average rainfall expected across the country for the next one week.