A man believed to have been drunk lost his life while two other people were rescued on Saturday after the raging waters of river Muatineni swept away a vehicle they were traveling in along the Sultan Hamud-kasikeu road.

Confirming the incident, Makueni Acting County Commissioner (CC) Moses Gicharu has appealed to the residents in the area to stop crossing flooded rivers as they risk being swept away by raging waters due to increased rainfall pounding the area.

“I appeal to the residents of Makueni to avoid crossing rivers as you cannot tell the magnitude of the water just by looking. They should wait for the water to subside or use an alternative route to avert loss of lives,” Gicharu said.

According to Makueni County Red Cross Coordinator Evans Peter, the two occupants of the vehicle, a man (30) and a woman (19) were rushed to Sultan Hamud Sub County Hospital, where they were treated for shock after the County Emergency Response team rescued them.

“Last night, the deceased John Mbelezi from Kitindini village, was swept by floods, and his body has been retrieved and taken to Kilungu Sub-county hospital mortuary for preservation,” he said.

Further, he said the ill-fated saloon car is yet to be removed from the incident scene saying motorists should use alternative roads.

“I urge motorists using our roads to find alternative ones instead of risking to cross flooded rivers,” observed the administrator.

Meanwhile, two bodies of men swept away by raging waters on River Kavuti four days ago are yet to be retrieved.