The Kenya Red Cross team has rescued a total of eleven people who had been been onboard a lorry that was swept away at River Kwa Muswii in Sultan Hamud, Makueni County.

This as the Red Cross rescued four people in the evening, to an additional seven that had been ferried away to safety earlier on.

The 11 were part of a group of people who were inside the lorry when the tragedy happened on Friday afternoon.

They have since been rushed to the Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital for treatment.

Five people have also since been confirmed dead from the incident.

“In Sultan Hamud, Makueni County, a distressing incident has occurred: a lorry ferrying people was swept away by raging waters. We are at the scene and actively responding to the situation,” stated the Red Cross.

The incident comes as the government declared 70 people dead and thousands displaced following the ongoing heavy rainfall across the country.