/ 27 August 2000

45 DIE AS KENYAN BUS PLUNGES OFF BRIDGE

AT least 45 people were killed when a bus plunged off a bridge in eastern Kenya on Thursday night. About 27 people survived the accident, the second transport disaster to hit Kenya in a week, but the death toll was expected to rise to at least 50. The bus, with an official capacity of 65, was said to be carrying 80 passengers. A train laden with gas exploded near Nairobi on Sunday, killing 29 people. In April 69 people perished when a bus collided with a truck on the highway between Nairobi and Mombasa. Speeding, the poor state of Kenya’s roads and over-loading have been blamed for the country’s frequent road accidents. – Reuters