Tension engulfed one of the ferries serving commuters at the Likoni Channel as a mobile device belonging to one of the ferry users exploded in flames.

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The incident ocurred as the passenger was in the process of flipping open the cover of his phone.

Scared, he threw the phone into the water but only after he had sustained minor burns.

The Kenya Ferry Services weighed in on the incident saying that the law enforcement agencies had launched investigations into the the incident.

"At 0900hrs on board Mv.Harambee,a male passenger's faulty phone battery burst into flames as he opened its cover,our staff & Police onboard responded. Police investigations are ongoing. #likoniferry @Ferrykenya @PSSDTransport @Kenya_Ports @TransportKE @Estherkoimett, " the Kenya Ferry Services tweeted.

The incident comes just weeks after a car sunk into the Likoni Channel waters with Mariam Kighenda and her daughter Amanda Mutheu inside.

There have been concerns from mebers of the public that no compelling security measures have been taken by the Kenya Ferry Services (KFS) to prevent another ferry incident.

The Likoni Channel is said to serve thousands of people daily taking them from the island to the mainland.

Members of the KFS board were reportedly sacked by President Uhuru Kenyatta over the sinking of the car.