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The number of people who died on Saturday evening when a truck carrying inflammable substances rammed into several vehicles before bursting into flames near Karai on the Nairobi-Naivasha Highway has increased to 40, deputy county commissioner Isaac Masinde has said.
Two survivors of the accident have been admitted at the Nairobi hospital; one in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and while the other is said to be in stable condition.
Witnesses at the scene said the driver of the tanker lost control and hit the other vehicle which created chain of knocks.
The accident on the busy highway, some 80 kilometres west of Nairobi created a horrible scene.
Four victims of the Saturday night accident were taken to the Naivasha Mt Longonot Medical Centre while two were treated and discharged. Two others, according to the Clinical Officer at the facility Dalmas Otumba, were taken to Nairobi hospital for specialised treatment.
According to a preliminary police report released on Sunday morning, the truck (registration number UAK 519C) hit a bump before its driver lost control and rammed into a vehicle in front and other vehicles before it burst into flames.
“The fire spread very fast burning 10 other vehicles. A General Service Unit (GSU) Land Cruiser registration number GK B 961G was also burnt, killing the officers on board. Most bodies were burnt beyond recognition,” said the police report.
“At the scene, two containers of premium bond substance said to be highly flammable were recovered and suspected were among the items carried in the truck,” added the report.
Nation reporters at the scene, on Sunday morning, counted 12 shells of burnt out vehicles and confirmed there are two bumps at the section of the road where the accident happened.
Transport PS Irungu Nyakera, while addressing the media on Sunday morning at the scene, said that nine police guns were also recovered and put the death toll at 33.
National Disaster Management Unit boss Pius Maasai has advised those who lost their loved ones to report at Naivasha Police station for assistance.
According to him, most of the bodies can be identified.
All the bodies, Mr Maasai said, will be taken to Naivasha mortuary.
The Kenya Red Cross has set up an information desk at the Naivasha police station where relatives have been urged to report their missing ones for identification.
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Wreckages of vehicles at the scene of accident at Karai in Naivasha on December 10, 2016. Over ten vehicles were involved in the night accident and claimed over 40 lives. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
NTSA boss Francis Meja confirmed that 12 vehicles were burnt, adding that one was a PSV and the rest private.
The matatu was carrying 14 passengers, who all perished.
The tanker, which was coming from Nairobi, was negotiating the hilly part of the road, before knocking a matatu and exploded into flames.
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Rescuers in frantic efforts to save victims at the scene of accident on December 10, 2016 at Karai, Naivasha. Over 40 lives were lost. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
MEDICS STRIKE
Earlier, a Kenya Red Cross official said rescuers had taken 30 bodies to Naivasha Sub-County Hospital Mortuary.