The Daily Caller reports that a road crash that took place in Kenya, Africa, on Friday has left at least 52 people dead and many more injured.ย
Some details about the incident have been provided, via Twitter, by Kipchumba Murkomen, Kenyaโs Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport, and Public Works.
"Yesterday, a trailer Registration No. RAC 164W/RL 2379 registered in Rwanda was involved in a tragic road traffic crash at Londiani Junction leaving 52 people dead and 32 people injured," the statement reads.
It continues, "Unfortunately, all the victims were trading on the roadside market and the others boarding vehicles at the roadside car park."
๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง ๐ข๐ก ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐
Yesterday, a trailer Registration No. RAC 164W/RL 2379 registered in Rwanda was involved in a tragic road traffic crash at Londiani Junction leaving 52 people dead and 32 people injured.โฆ pic.twitter.com/NIV7lmlC82
โ KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) July 1, 2023
Londiani Junction, according to the Daily Caller, is "a busy intersection with a roadside market and public transport parking garage." The Daily Caller says that it is located about 130 miles northeast of Nairobi, which is the capital of Kenya.
The Guardian has provided more details about the crash, reporting, "A truck carrying a shipping container veered out of control and plowed into multiple other vehicles and people thronging a busy roadside junction on Friday evening, plunging the nation into shock and mourning."
The outlet later adds, "The trailer rammed into private cars, minibuses,ย boda bodas (motorcycle taxis), and market stalls on the side of a busy highway between the lakeside town of Nakuru and Kericho, an area known for its lush tea plantations."
Joel Rotich witnessed what had happened and described it to the Guardian.
"The accident happened in a flash. Many of them had no time to escape,โ Rotich said. โThere was a lot of confusion because people were screaming all over and everyone was running after the accident."
A significant rescue effort began after the accident, which spanned into Saturday. Rescuers, while working in the pouring rain, continued to try to find victims among the wreckage.
According to Murkomen, "Investigationsย have been launched to establish the cause of this accident."
For now, Murkomen is urging "drivers to be cautious and follow the rules."
Road crash fatalities are not unusual in Kenya. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that Kenya has witnessed over 4,500 road crash fatalities in 2021 and nearly 4,700 in 2022. Accordingly, the situation only appears to be getting worse.
