At Least 20 People Killed After Bus Plunges into a River Along Meru-Nairobi Highway

At least 20 people have died and scores injured after the bus they were traveling in plunged into a river at Nithi bridge along the Meru-Nairobi highway on Sunday evening.

Reports indicate that the bus belonging to Modern Coast company was heading to Mombasa from Maua in Meru when it lost brakes before falling off the bridge into Nithi River about 40 meters below at around 6.30 pm.

Tharaka Nithi County Rescue team manager Alex Mugambi who led rescue operations at the scene alongside police officers and members of the public confirmed the fatalities. Those injured were rushed to Chuka County Referral Hospital and PCEA Chogoria Mission Hospital.

An eyewitness said the bus was descending the Nithi slope at high speed when it hit the guard rails on the bridge and plunged into the river.

“The bus must have developed brake failure because it was at a very high speed when the accident happened,” he said.

Nation reported that search and rescue operations are underway with the total number of fatalities likely to rise as some passengers are feared to still be trapped under the wreckage.

Photos and videos shared on social media showed the mangled wreckage of the bus on the river bank and another part could be seen in the river.