Six Tourists Perish During Excursion at Ol-Jorowa Gorge in Kenya’s Hell’s Gate Park

Six people who were swept away by flash floods at Hell’s Gate National Park in Naivasha on Sunday evening have been confirmed dead.

The deceased were among seven people, including six tourists and their tour guide, who were swept away during an excursion at the park at about 4 pm.

While confirming the death of the six, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said a search is ongoing for one more tourist who is still missing.

“Six bodies of the flash flood victims have been recovered, leaving one tourist missing. The search and rescue operation continues as we reach out to next of kin to share details of the sad incident and plan together next course of action,” KWS said in a statement on Monday.

The seven were exploring the Ol-Jorowa gorge at Hell’s Gate when they were swept away following heavy rainfall.

On Monday, KWS announced the closure of the gorge citing the ongoing rains in the area and its environs.

In 2012, seven members of a Nairobi Pentecostal Church of East Africa (PCEA) church group drowned in flash floods as they explored the Ol-Jorowa gorge in Hell’s Gate. 

Hell’s Gate National Park was established in 1984 and is home to three geothermal power stations.