A PSV bus carrying 49 passengers was swept away by powerful floods on the Garissa-Nairobi Highway in the early hours of Tuesday, April 9. However, none of the passengers lost their lives during the scary incident.
The vehicle, owned by the Umma Express Bus Company, met its fate at Lager Ager in Chuma area. Following the incident, the passengers who were travelling from Wajir to Nairobi spent the cold night trapped in flood waters.
According to reports, the driver of the bus, identified as Hassan Turbo, made an attempt to traverse a flooded section of the road amidst heavy rainfall. Regrettably, the bus lost traction and veered off the road, becoming lodged in a ditch.
Subsequently, the force of the water gradually swept the bus approximately 30 meters away from the highway.
Thankfully, all passengers aboard the bus, which was en route from Garissa to Nairobi, were rescued from the perilous situation. The operation to save the passengers was facilitated by a specialized rescue team comprising personnel from the Garissa military and the Red Cross.
Kenya Red Cross in a statement through their X handle said the first responders had also been sent to rescue the passengers.
“First responders in collaboration with community members are currently engaged in a challenging rescue operation to save the lives of several people stranded aboard a bus that has been marooned by raging waters at Arer near Tulla village in Tana River County,” Red Cross said.
“The incident occurred following heavy downpour. We have dispatched two rescue boats to ensure a swift and effective response.”
This comes even as the Kenya National Highways Authority announced the closure of the Nairobi-Garissa (A3) Road.
