Many feared dead as tree falls on fully loaded 18-seater bus in Enugu

From Jude Chinedu, Enugu

Several passengers are feared dead following a tragic incident on Tuesday night at Ukwu Akpu Awhum community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, where a massive tree fell on a moving commercial bus during a heavy rainstorm.

Residents said the incident occurred amid a torrential downpour accompanied by strong winds that uprooted the tree and brought it crashing onto the busy road. The tree reportedly landed on an 18-seater bus travelling towards 9th Mile.

A video seen by The Sun showed lifeless bodies laid on the ground while early responders wailed in anguish at the scene.

Eyewitnesses said the sudden impact threw the vehicle off balance, causing it to overturn. The bus was badly damaged, with a number of passengers trapped inside.

“The rain was intense and the wind was very strong. We suddenly heard a loud noise. When we rushed out, we saw that a huge tree had fallen on a bus,” a resident said.

Another witness described the scene as distressing, noting that some passengers were screaming for help as people in the neighbourhood struggled in the rain to rescue those trapped.

Sources within the community said the accident involved the fully loaded bus and a Sienna car, heightening fears that the casualty figure could be high.

Community volunteers and members of local vigilante groups were among the first to respond. Despite poor visibility and slippery conditions, they worked to pull victims from the wreckage and convey the injured to nearby hospitals.

Some residents also claimed the fallen tree holds spiritual significance in the community, though the immediate cause of the incident was linked to the severe weather.

The tragedy has left the Awhum community in mourning, with calls for authorities to assess ageing roadside trees and strengthen emergency response systems to prevent a recurrence.