Four confirmed dead after bus swept away by floods

At least four people have been confirmed dead and more than ten others are still missing after flash floods swept away a commuter bus in Mandera County in northern Kenya on Thursday.

Mandera County Commissioner Alex Ole Nkoyo said rescue efforts could be suspended due to insecurity in the area as a result of darkness though more than ten passengers remain unaccounted.

"The bus had 59 passengers when it left Mandera for Nairobi with unknown number of children and later it was stuck in the mud. Only 42 passengers had been rescued," Nkoyo said.

The residents have expressed fears the death toll could rise. Witnesses and survivors said the bus was crossing the Gadudia seasonal river, which is about 30 kilometers from Mandera town, when the accident happened.

"Upon seeing the flood, the driver estimated that he can still cross over but the flood was too strong and the vehicle was swept off the road and got stuck at a rocky surface 15 meters away," said one survivor. "After it came to a complete stop, there was a stampede to the windows and doors for exist, and in the process one person drowned, " the survivor added. Endi