KENYA: At least 34 people were confirmed dead after a bus travelling from Meru to the port city of Mombasa in Nairobi, Kenya, switched off the Nithi bridge and plunged into a river valley.
How it happened
The Nithi bridge, which stands 40 metres (131 feet), has claimed the lives of 18 non-disabled men, 14 women, and two girls. Eleven more people have been rescued and are being treated at various hospitals across the state, according to Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Nobert Komora.
Kamra also stated that the incident occurred due to brake failure, which prevented the driver from turning properly at the sharp corner.
According to National Bureau of Statistics data, 4579 people died in road accidents in Kenya in 2021, a 15% increase from the previous year.
However, Kenya’s transport regulator, the National Transport and Safety Authority, has issued a directive for the immediate suspension of Modern Coast buses from operation while an investigation into the incident is underway.
According to the country’s top cop, Reno Bunei, the bus carried an unknown number of people. On July 8, a car crashed along the Nairobi highway in the coastal city of Mombasa, killing approximately 20 people.
Kenya’s Police spokesperson, Bruno Shioso, early advised all road users to always adhere to safety measures and avoid over-speeding to abide by traffic laws to prevent road crashes and accidents in the county.
An eyewitness accounts
According to eyewitnesses, the bus’s roof ripped off when it collided with the road’s guard rails, and the bus rolled in the air first, then several times down the rocky path before landing with a thud on the river bank.
We were chewing miraa when we noticed the bus moving quickly. As the driver attempted to control it, it hit the rail and swerved back to the road. I saw it suddenly hit the rails and fall into the river. A bus survivor has confirmed this.
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