Residents of Enugu State have been thrown into shock following a tragic rainstorm incident that reportedly claimed several lives along the Ukwu Akpu Awhum axis on Tuesday night.
The heartbreaking accident occurred during a torrential downpour accompanied by strong winds, which uprooted a massive roadside tree and sent it crashing onto a moving 18-seater commercial bus heading toward 9th Mile. Eyewitnesses said the impact was devastating, causing the bus to lose control and overturn while trapping passengers inside.
According to residents of the Awhum community, the heavy rainfall and violent windstorm struck suddenly, leaving motorists with little visibility and no time to react.
“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,” one resident recounted.
Another eyewitness described the aftermath as harrowing, noting that the bus was severely damaged and passengers were screaming for help as locals scrambled to assist.
Local accounts further indicated that the crash involved not only the fully loaded commercial bus but also a car, heightening fears that multiple casualties may have been recorded.
Emergency responders, including community volunteers and vigilante groups, were said to be the first on the scene despite the persistent rainfall and poor visibility. They reportedly worked tirelessly to rescue trapped passengers and evacuate the injured to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention.
Preliminary findings suggest that the strong winds accompanying the storm were responsible for toppling the tree onto the busy highway.
The incident has plunged the Awhum community into mourning, with residents calling for urgent assessment and removal of weak roadside trees to prevent similar tragedies in the future. They also urged authorities to strengthen emergency response mechanisms, especially during severe weather conditions.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the state police command for official confirmation were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
