Kenya Red Cross has said that all the passengers who left stranded inside a bus in River Tana have been rescued.

In a statement on X, the humanitarian organisation said that the first priority was given to women, children and those who were sick.

Efforts are also ongoing to help other commuters.

“All passengers aboard the bus have now been rescued, with priority initially given to women, children, and those who were sick. However, our efforts are ongoing as we continue to rescue other commuters who were stranded due to the road being cut off at Arer near Tulla Bridge, Tana River County,”  Red cross said.

All passengers aboard the bus have now been rescued, with priority initially given to women, children, and those who were sick.

However, our efforts are ongoing as we continue to rescue other commuters who were stranded due to the road being cut off at Arer near Tulla Bridge,… https://t.co/KaIVHbNjDx pic.twitter.com/YTKZSojC51

— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) April 9, 2024

Red Cross deployed boats to rescue the 51 passengers who spent the night trapped by flood waters after the bus they were travelling in was swept away by floods after midnight.

“The incident occurred following heavy downpour. We have dispatched two rescue boats to ensure a swift and effective response,” the organization stated.

According to reports, the passengers were travelling from Garissa to Nairobi when the  Umma Express bus they were travelling in was swept by flood waters at Tula area on Garissa- Mwingi road, at 2.00 am on Tuesday.

Kenya Red Cross acted with local community members who were among the first responders of the rescue mission.

“First responders in collaboration with community members are currently engaged in a challenging rescue operation to save the lives of several people stranded aboard a bus that has been marooned by raging waters at Arer near Tulla village in Tana River County,” KRC said before.

In a statement on Monday April 8, 2024, the Kenya National Highways Authority  announced the temporary closure of the Nairobi-Garissa (A3) Road at the Mororo area between Madogo and Tana River bridge, due to flooding that  had rendered the road impassable.

“KeNHA informs the public of the closure of Nairobi – Garissa (A3) Road due to flooding at the Mororo area between Madogo and Tana River Bridge. The flooding is as a result of the ongoing rains which has occasioned rising water at Tana River,” KeNHA stated.

This comes even as the Meteorological Department of Kenya  warns that most parts of the country will continue to record a heavy downpour throughout the week.

This is contained in the five-day forecast report released on Tuesday by the weather man from April 9 to April 13