37 dead in Kenya as bus plunges off bridge

In the latest of a spate of transport disasters, at least 37 people were killed and dozens injured when a bus plunged off a bridge, police said Friday.

In the latest of a spate of transport disasters, at least 37 people were killed and dozens injured when a bus plunged off a bridge, police said Friday.

Dola Indidis, police spokesman, said the accident occurred near Meru, 165 kilometers (100 miles) north east of Nairobi, as the bus traveled to Mombasa late Thursday.

He said the death toll could be higher.

"We still do not know how may people were in the bus. There could still be people trapped under the debris. This morning we recovered four bodies which is why we are leaving open the possibility of finding more (dead)," Indidis told The Associated Press.

The cause of the accident was not yet known, but no other vehicle was involved, he said.

It was also unclear how many passengers were on the bus, owned by local company Tawfiq, but Kenyan coaches have a notorious history of overloading.

Indidis said 19 people had so far been admitted to local hospitals.

Kenya has been plagued by transport disasters in recent weeks.

Around midnight Saturday, nine runaway train cars, six carrying liquefied petroleum gas, derailed at a station south of Nairobi, igniting an inferno which consumed nearby houses which has so far left 32 dead.

Last Wednesday, seven passengers died and 38 were injured when a passenger train went off the tracks in western Kenya.