- A massive tree uprooted by heavy rain collapsed onto a moving commercial bus in Enugu.
- The incident occurred on Tuesday night along the Ukwu Akpu Awhum axis.
- Multiple travellers are feared dead as rescue operations continue in the area.
A devastating tragedy struck the Ukwu Akpu Awhum axis of Enugu State on Tuesday night after a massive tree, uprooted by torrential rainfall and strong winds, crushed a moving 18-seater commercial bus.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the impact left several passengers dead and many others trapped in the mangled remains of the vehicle.
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Eyewitnesses described a horrific scene, noting that the bus was heading towards 9th Mile when the tree suddenly crashed onto the highway.
The force of the collapse caused the driver to lose control, leading the vehicle to overturn. Local residents who rushed to the scene reported hearing screams for help from those pinned inside the wreckage.
Community volunteers and local vigilante groups were the first responders, battling poor visibility and rain-slicked roads to pull survivors from the bus.
While some injured passengers were successfully rushed to nearby hospitals, there are grave fears that the death toll will rise.
A car was also reportedly involved in the crash, though the extent of the damage to that vehicle is still being assessed.
The Awhum community has been thrown into mourning as the news of the tragedy spread.
Local leaders are now calling for an urgent safety assessment of large trees lining major highways to prevent a recurrence of such a disaster.
As of Wednesday morning, official casualty figures have not been released, as the Enugu State Police Command is yet to issue a formal statement on the incident.
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