A model aircraft lies next to burnt tires during a drill meant to test the level of emergency preparedness in case of an air crash in Kisumu Wednesday. JACOB OWITI
By Nation Correspondent
A drill caused confusion and panic in Kisumu Town Wednesday after an air crash to gauge emergency response.
Word spread fast that a commercial aeroplane with 38 passengers on board had crashed at the lakeside airport, throwing authorities into action.
Emergency response teams were caught unawares as blaring sirens from police and ambulances filled the air, interrupting business in parts of the town.
Residents flocked the scene, shocked at the sight of “bloodied” casualties.
Rescue teams rushed the “injured” to hospitals in the city, which were at least seven kilometres away.
Hearts were relieved when the authorities announced that the whole drama was a routine drill of the Kenya Airports Authority, which was meant to gauge preparedness by emergency response teams, especially the airport’s own rescuers, in case of a similar situation.
Response was timely
KAA manager Joseph Okumu said the response was timely and all “casualties” had been removed from the crashed plane.
“The airport’s response team recorded a timely two-minute response, beating the recommended not-exceeding three minutes time,” he said.
The Red Cross Society, Saint John Ambulance and the police, all who had not been informed of the full-scale drill, arrived at the scene within 10 minutes of notice.
An “observer” from the airport rescue team reported that out of the 38 passengers, 10 had suffered serious injuries while 20 only recorded slight injuries.
The coordinator of the drill, Mr Francis Ndeleve, from the KAA headquarters in Nairobi said random biennial drills are a requirement by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
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