MERCY NZILU

Created on :Apr 09, 2024

Passengers Trapped After Wajir Bus Is Swept by Floods

On Tuesday, April 9, 51 passengers found themselves trapped after their bus was swept away by floods along the Garissa-Mwingi road. The bus, en route from Wajir to Nairobi, became immobilized around the Tula area at 2:00 in the morning.

Rescue efforts are underway as occupants spent the morning submerged in water. At the time of this report's publication, the condition of those trapped remains unconfirmed.

The incident occurred subsequent to a notice from the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) announcing the closure of a segment of the Nairobi-Garissa road. KeNHA had shut down the Nairobi-Garissa (A3) road due to flooding at the Mororo area between Madogo and Tana River Bridge.

"The flooding at Mororo has compromised one lane of the road. This poses a high safety risk to road users," remarked KeNHA.

Similarly, the North Horr-Kalacha (B75) Road in Marsabit County was closed on April 5 after floods rendered it impassable. Motorists were advised to seek alternative routes, with contractors on standby for assessment and potential reinstatement of damaged road sections.

The widespread flooding is a consequence of heavy rainfall across various parts of the country. In response, the National Disaster Operation Centre issued a directive to residents near the Seven Forks Dam, cautioning about spillage concerns. Those in low-lying areas of Garissa, Lamu, and Tana River counties were advised to relocate to higher ground.

The combination of road closures, ongoing rescue operations, and spillage warnings underscores the severity of the flooding situation and the need for proactive measures to safeguard lives and property in affected regions.