• The 51 passengers were aboard a bus from Garissa to Nairobi when their vehicle was marooned by raging waters in Arer in Tana River
• KRC said had sent two boats to resuce the passengers with priority being given to the vulnerable groups such as children
Image: SCREENGRAB
All 51 passengers who were stranded in a bus swept by flash floods in Tana River have been rescued, Kenya Red Cross (KRC) has confirmed.
The passengers were aboard a bus from Garissa to Nairobi when their vehicle was marooned by raging waters in Arer in Tana River.
KRC had sent two boats to rescue the passengers with priority being given to vulnerable groups such as children.
"All passengers aboard the bus have now been rescued, with priority initially given to women, children and those who were sick," KRC said.
The Kenya Red Cross in their latest update said the efforts have now shifted to rescuing commuters who are stranded after the road cut off at Tulla bridge.
"Our efforts are ongoing as we continue to rescue other commuters who were stranded due to the road being cut off at Arer near Tulla Bridge, Tana River County," it added.
According to Tana River County Police Commander Ali Ndiema, the bus was travelling from Garissa to Nairobi on Monday at 11:30 pm.
Ndiema said the driver of the bus had reportedly dared to cross the flooded section against the advice of other drivers and passengers only for it to be submerged by the heavy waters 50 metres off the road.
Some of the passengers jumped off the bus unhurt after water got into the vehicle.
The other passengers remained on the roof of the bus awaiting rescue teams.
The Kenya National Highways Authority had issued a warning to commuters along the Garissa-Nairobi highway (A3) due to flooding in the Mororo area between Madogo and the Tana River Bridge.
According to KeNHA, the flooding has affected one lane of the road, posing a high safety risk to road users.
"This poses a high safety risk to the road users. This road, therefore, shall remain closed until the flood waters subside and the damaged section is reinstated," KeNHA said.
Other roads currently being monitored by KeNHA include the Garissa-Mombasa highway at Bilbil and Charidende in Tana River County, which were washed away by the El Niño floods.
The meteorological department has warned that most places will experience heavy rains in the coming months.
This means most places will be flooded and calls for caution.