At least 31 killed as bus carrying church choir to a wedding is swept off a bridge into raging flood in Kenya

MORE than 30 people died after a bus travelling to a wedding plunged into a flooded river in Kenya.

Horrifying footage shows the moment it was swept away after the driver tried to cross fast-flowing water over a bridge in the Enziu River, 125 miles east of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

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The bus was taking a church choir and other revellers to a wedding yesterday when it keeled over and sank beneath fast-flowing waters as the driver tried to navigate a submerged bridge.

Both passengers and passers-by could be heard shrieking for help, and people rushed to try and get people out.

Twelve passengers managed to scramble to safety but most aboard the stricken bus were unable to escape before it was swallowed by the muddy tide.

Kitui governor Charity Ngilu said 31 bodies had been retrieved since yesterday by military divers.

But she warned the toll could rise further as the search and rescue operation continued.

She said: "Today we have been able to retrieve seven. We still have more bodies in the bus."

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Ms Ngilu added: "It is very, very sad indeed. We have lost so many lives."

It remains unclear how many passengers were aboard the bus when it tipped into the Enziu River.

Witnesses said the driver had stopped to negotiate the river and was close to the other side when the bus was swept beneath the churning currents.

It is very, very sad indeed... we have lost so many lives

Charity NgiluKitui governor

President Uhuru Kenyatta sent his condolences to the families of the victims and urged Kenyans to be cautious on roads during the rainy season.

A statement from his office read: "Once again, the President wishes to remind Kenyans across the country to heed government advisory against attempting to cross swollen rivers especially during the current rainy season.”

Unusual heavy rains have been deluging many parts of Kenya in recent days.

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