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A passenger bus carrying travellers from Ukunda to Nairobi plunged into the Indian Ocean on Sunday morning.
The Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) reports that the bus's brakes failed as it ascended the ferry ramp on the Likoni side, causing it to roll backwards and submerge in the ocean. A Kenya Red Cross official has confirmed that nine passengers sustained injuries in the accident. Fortunately, Kenya Red Cross rescuers were on site and successfully retrieved the injured passengers. Eyewitness accounts, supported by photos and videos circulating online, depicted the orange bus overturned and partially submerged in the ocean. Divers and Good Samaritans were observed actively participating in the ongoing rescue operations.
The exact number of occupants in the bus at the time of the incident remains unknown, although nine individuals were successfully rescued. This event occurred less than a day after a similar incident involving a truck, which narrowly avoided colliding with passengers at the Likoni Ferry crossing channel before plunging into the ocean. While no injuries were reported in the truck incident, it caused significant traffic congestion by obstructing a crucial area of the channel. This recent bus accident bears a striking resemblance to an incident three years prior, where a tourist bus slipped into the ocean due to brake failure.
In that case, passengers had disembarked to allow the bus to board the ferry, leaving only the driver and his assistant to be rescued from the sinking vehicle. In August 2024, four individuals were injured during a nighttime stampede after passengers grew impatient due to delays experienced by an MV Jambo ferry. The Likoni Ferry crossing channel, a vital link connecting Mombasa Island to the mainland, is one of Kenya's busiest ferry services, accommodating thousands of passengers and vehicles daily.
Despite its significance, the channel has been plagued by safety concerns, including mechanical failures, overcrowding, and inadequate emergency response measures. In recent years, the Kenya Ferry Services has implemented various safety improvements at the Likoni crossing channel including, regular ferry maintenance, installation of safety barriers, and increased presence of emergency response teams.