Emergency services have been engaged in the rescue of passengers who found themselves trapped in a bus that was swept away by floods on a busy highway in northern Kenya.
The bus, carrying approximately 50 passengers, was en route to Nairobi from northern Wajir county, according to police reports.
The incident occurred when the driver attempted to navigate a flooded section of the road, resulting in the bus becoming stuck in mud and surrounded by fast-flowing waters.
The challenging rescue mission lasted nearly 10 hours, with some passengers being rescued from the bus’s roof.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that all passengers aboard the bus have been rescued, describing the operation as challenging due to the difficult circumstances faced by those stranded amid the floodwaters.
The situation unfolded in the early hours of Tuesday, following heavy rains that led to significant flooding along the Garissa-Nairobi Highway.
Videos circulated on social media depicted the bus, owned by Umma Express, being submerged in floodwaters in the Lager Areli area near Tulla village in Tana River county.
Ali Ndiema, the regional police chief, condemned the driver’s actions, stating that the decision to cross the flooded area endangered the lives of over 50 people, constituting a punishable offense.
The Kenya Red Cross, in collaboration with local community members, facilitated the rescue operation, using boats to reach the stranded passengers.
Efforts are ongoing to rescue other commuters stranded on the impassable road, with the agency deploying two boats for this purpose.
Prior to the incident, Kenya’s roads agency had issued a closure notice for a section of the highway due to flooding.
The region has experienced heavy rains over the past week, with forecasts indicating continued rainfall in the coming days.
Source-BBC
