By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya

Fifty people, including several children, died in an accident in western Kenya early Wednesday when a 67-seater bus veered off the road in an accident-prone area and rolled down a steep slope.

Eyewitnesses put the time of the accident as 4.00 am East Africa Time (0100GMT).

Confirming the deaths, Kericho County Police Commander James Mogera said the death toll could rise as some people are still believed to have been trapped in the wreckage.

Police say that eight children below age 6 are among those who perished.

The site of the accident, Fort Ternan, has been called “a black spot” due to how often accidents happen there. Eyewitness Timothy Kosgei told Anadolu Agency: “We have been asking the county government to put up speed bumps and guard rails around here but nothing was done.”

The injured have been rushed to the Muhoroni and Kericho hospitals.