A tragic incident has left residents in shock after a massive tree uprooted by heavy rainfall crashed onto a moving commercial bus along the Ukwu Akpu Awhum axis in Enugu State, reportedly killing several travellers.
The accident occurred on Tuesday night during a torrential downpour accompanied by strong winds, which witnesses said brought down the tree onto the busy highway and directly onto an 18-seater bus heading toward 9th Mile.
Eyewitnesses said the impact caused the vehicle to lose control and overturn, leaving it severely damaged and trapping passengers inside.
“The rain was very heavy and the wind was strong. Suddenly we heard a loud crash. When we rushed out, we saw that a big tree had fallen on a bus,” a resident of the area said.
Another witness described the aftermath as devastating.
“The bus was completely crushed. People were trapped inside and screaming for help. It was a terrible sight,” he said.
Local accounts indicated that the crash involved a fully loaded commercial bus and a car, raising fears that multiple lives were lost.
“Ukwu Akpu Awhum has fallen tonight and claimed the lives of passengers in an 18-seater bus and a car. If you know anyone travelling this route, please check on them,” a community member warned in a message circulated shortly after the incident.
Emergency responders, including local volunteers and vigilante groups, were reportedly the first to arrive at the scene, battling heavy rain and poor visibility as they worked to rescue survivors and evacuate the injured to nearby hospitals.
“They tried their best in the rain. Some of the injured were rushed to hospitals immediately,” another resident said.
Preliminary findings suggest that strong winds during the storm may have been responsible for toppling the tree onto the highway.
The tragedy has thrown the Awhum community into mourning, with residents calling for urgent assessment of roadside trees and improved emergency response mechanisms to prevent similar incidents.
Efforts to reach the Enugu State Police Command for official confirmation were unsuccessful, as spokesperson Daniel Ndukwe did not respond to calls or text messages as of the time the report was filed.
