A passenger bus operated by Coast Bus company has been consumed by flames while transporting travelers along the busy Mombasa-Nairobi Highway on Thursday, August 29.
The incident occurred in the Mtito Andei area, where preliminary reports indicate that the fire was triggered by a tire burst, which quickly escalated into a full-blown blaze.
In videos shared by locals and witnesses, the bus had completely burnt down from the back leaving behind charred metal remains.
Additionally, the tires of the bus had been stripped off, while the windows were completely shattered.
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Kenyans React After the Passenger Bus Incident
Fortunately, all passengers were safely evacuated, and no serious injuries or fatalities were reported by the time of publication of this article.
Also, fire fighters rushed to the scene to put out the flame and prevent any further damages.
The passengers were later transferred to a Modern Coast bus to continue their journey. Moreover, the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the tire burst is suspected to have played a significant role in the incident.
The incident has caused reactions among Kenyans who have expressed their worry for the increasing number of accidents in the country.
“These accidents are becoming to many, something needs to be done,” Kwachiffu stated on X.
In addition, another user called out the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) demanding that it inspects all vehicles and prioritize the safety of Kenyans.
“NTSA should not joke with the lives of Kenyans. They should ground all their vehicles and inspect them. There’s one that goes to Eldoret, color white. It’s also a death trap,” stated the user.
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NTSA Statistics on Accidents
According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), road crashes in Kenya claimed at least 2,407 lives between January and July 7, 2024.
Out of this, 6,083 people were seriously injured, and 4,083 sustained minor injuries.
The fatalities included 919 pedestrians, 210 drivers, 478 passengers, 199 pillion passengers, 46 pedal cyclists, and 555 motorcyclists.
Additionally, the authority noted that most of the accidents recorded in the first week of July occurred between 3pm and 11pm with the peak being at 9pm.
Saturday, Monday and Sunday were noted to have the highest fatalities at 21, 18 and 15 respectively.
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