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Hell's Gate: Kenya tour group swept away by flash flood Hell's Gate: Six bodies found after tour group swept away by flood
(about 11 hours later)
Two people have been confirmed dead and five others are missing after a tour group was swept away by a flash flood during heavy rains in a Kenyan national park. Six bodies have been recovered after a tour group was swept away by a flash flood in a Kenyan national park.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the incident at Hell's Gate National Park involved five Kenyan nationals, a local tour guide and a "foreigner". The incident at Hell's Gate National Park on Sunday involved five Kenyan nationals, a local tour guide and a "foreigner", officials said.
Two bodies were recovered during a search-and-rescue operation, which is still under way. One tourist is still missing and a search and rescue operation is continuing.
The park has now been closed. The park, which is about 100km (60 miles) north-west of the capital, Nairobi, has been closed.
AFP news agency reports that the missing and dead were part of a 12-strong group that were visiting Hells Gate, about 60 miles (100km) north-west of the capital Nairobi. The missing and dead were part of a 13-strong group that were visiting the park's Rift Valley, AFP news agency reports.
Local media report that a survivor from the group alerted park rangers after the incident took place, and a search party and helicopter were dispatched to the scene. The group became trapped in one of the gorges when flash flooding swept through the park.
A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that the rest of the missing were "presumed dead", based on witness accounts from survivors. After the incident, which happened during heavy rains, two survivors from the group reportedly alerted park rangers who sent out a search party and a helicopter.
Hell's Gate, named after a narrow break in its cliffs, was once the tributary of a prehistoric lake and its downhill gorges are prone to flooding.Hell's Gate, named after a narrow break in its cliffs, was once the tributary of a prehistoric lake and its downhill gorges are prone to flooding.
It is the site of spectacular scenery which inspired the hit Disney animation film The Lion King. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which manages the park, said tourists were usually always accompanied by guides who were trained to detect storm water flowing downstream towards the gorge.
The park, set up in 1984, also houses three geothermal stations. "Experienced guides... are able to alert tourists of impending emergencies and direct them to exit points," it tweeted.
"Since the last similar tragedy in 2012, we have created clearly marked emergency exits along the whole gorge as escape routes in case of danger like the flash floods," it said.
In 2012, seven people died in similar flooding at Hell's Gate, which is frequented by hikers and campers.
Many Kenyans are angry that the incident appears to have repeated itself and some are questioning whether the park should remain open during the rainy season, the BBC's Ferdinand Omondi says.
The park is the site of spectacular scenery and it inspired the hit Disney animation film The Lion King. The 2003 film Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life was also filmed there.
It was set up in 1984 and also houses three geothermal stations.