A total of 33 people are confirmed to have died after a Modern Coast PSV bus headed for Mombasa plunged into River Nithi on the busy Meru-Nairobi highway on Sunday evening.

Confirming the deaths on Monday, Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Nobert Komora said 10 other passengers survived the deadly crash even as he warned the fatalities could rise.

Tharaka Nithi County police commander Donatha Chali says the bodies of the deceased have been moved to morgues in Chuka County Referral and Chogoria PCEA hospitals.


Tharaka Nithi County Rescue team manager Alex Mugambi, who led rescue and recovery efforts at the scene, with the injured being taken to Chuka County Referral Hospital.

Rescue efforts that started on Sunday at around 6:40pm when the bus travelling from Maua plunged into Nithi River 40 metres off the bridge resumed at the scene on Monday.


According to eyewitnesses, the Modern Coast commuter bus left Meru town at 5pm on Sunday and seemingly lost control as it approached the bridge resulting in the accident.


Area residents say the Nithi River is a notorious blackspot and urged for caution from drivers even as a section of Kenyans raised issue with the safety record of the Modern Coast fleet.