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Kenya: Death Toll Rises to 30 in Enziu River Bus Tragedy As Search Continues

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4 years ago

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Nairobi — The death from the Enziu River bus tragedy rose to 30 Sunday after 7 more bodies were retrieved.

Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu said 7 bodies were retrieved after a day-long search that involved the military, Kenya Red Cross, Police, National Youth Service (NYS), county fire department and locals.

The bodies retrieved Sunday include a nine-month-old baby who were among a group of locals and a church choir that was headed to a wedding when the tragedy occurred. Most of the dead were members from the same families or relatives.

“Seven bodies were retrieved today but the death toll could increase because there people who are missing,” Ngilu said, updating an earlier toll of 23.

Two of the 23 bodies retrieved Saturday from the river river were buried Sunday at the Mwingi cemetery in line with Muslim traditions.

They include a 42-year-old mother and her son aged 26.

Local authorities said a search for more bodies would resume Monday following the tragedy that occurred on Saturday, with fears that as many as 20 or 30 more bodies could be under water after reports indicated that the bus may have been carrying at least 60 people.

23 of the bodies were pulled out of the mud on the edge of the river Saturday even as rescue teams worked to retrieve the wreckage of the bus stuck below the surface of the raging water with an unknown number of people trapped inside.

12 were rescued when the bus ferrying a Catholic church choir and villagers to a wedding plunged into the swollen river.