A helicopter crashed near the foot of Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu County on Wednesday, August 19, prompting an urgent response from police, security teams and emergency personnel.
Samburu County Police Commander David Nkoroi confirmed the incident, saying officers were working to reach the reported crash site. At the time of reporting, police had not yet managed to access the location because of the difficult terrain.
Thick smoke was seen rising from the area where the aircraft reportedly went down, with eyewitnesses describing a large plume of black smoke and flames shortly after the crash. The reports attracted the attention of residents nearby, who raised the alarm and alerted the authorities.
Regional security teams and emergency medical personnel were subsequently deployed as efforts began to reach the site and establish what had happened.
The number of people who were on board the helicopter had not been confirmed by police. Authorities had also not identified the occupants of the aircraft or established their condition.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remained unclear as emergency teams worked to access the area.
Information about where the helicopter had come from, its intended destination and the reason for the flight had not been released.
The rugged terrain around Mt. Ololokwe was expected to make the response more difficult, with officers and rescue teams facing challenges in reaching the reported crash location.
Residents continued to monitor the situation as authorities worked to establish the full details of the incident. Police were expected to provide more information once teams reached the crash site and assessed the situation.
For now, the condition of those who may have been aboard the helicopter remains unconfirmed. Authorities are also yet to establish the exact number of occupants and the circumstances that led to the aircraft coming down near the mountain.
The response remains focused on reaching the crash site, confirming the occupants and determining what happened before the helicopter went down.
