Close call for passengers as bus catches fire

Over 50 passengers escaped death narrowly after a bus they were travelling in burst into flames in Gilgil along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

The passengers of the ill-fated Greenline Services operated bus lost all their personal effects in the 3 am incident.

Police patrolling the highway acted quickly to evacuate the visibly shaken passengers from the bus.

Edna Nafula, a passenger, said their journey was peaceful and safe until they had a tyre burst when they arrived in Gilgil town.

"The driver parked the bus by the roadside to change the tyre but there was smoke from the engine and in minutes a fire erupted completely burning our luggage," she said.

Gilgil OCPD Emmanuel Opuru confirmed the incident adding that a mechanical problem could have contributed to the fire.

"No one was injured during the incident but unfortunately majority of the passengers lost all their luggage to the fire," he said.