34 dead, scores injured as Modern Coast bus plunges into River Nithi

At least 34 people have lost their lives after a Mombasa-bound bus they were travelling in plunged into River Nithi along the Meru-Nairobi highway on Sunday evening.

While confirming the fatalities, Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Nobert Komora said at least 11 people had survived the grisly crash, but cautioned that the number of fatalities could rise since they were seriously injured. 

Recovery efforts had resumed early Monday at the Nithi River bridge.

According to the police, the accident happened at 6.30pm after the bus, which was travelling from Maua, fell off the bridge into the river about 40 metres deep.

According to reports, the Modern Coast had left Meru town at around 5pm Sunday and  on reaching Nithi bridge, a notorious blackspot,the driver appeared to lose control as the bus hurtled down the steep slope at top speed before plunging 40 metres into the river.

The injured travellers were rushed to Chuka County Referral Hospital and PCEA Chogoria Mission Hospital while the bodies were taken to the facilitates mortuaries.