No fewer than 11 persons have been confirmed dead after a large tree collapsed on two commercial vehicles at Awhum Village Market Square in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The tragic incident occurred at about 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday and involved a Toyota Hiace bus and a Sienna minivan, according to information gathered by PUNCH Metro.
Confirming the development in a statement on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Enugu State Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe, said the victims were passengers who had boarded the vehicles from Old Park in Enugu and were travelling to various communities within the Awhum/Okpatu axis.
Ndukwe explained that the vehicles had stopped at the market square to drop off some passengers when the tree suddenly fell on them.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the vehicles had stopped to drop off passengers when the tree, weakened by heavy rainfall, strong winds, and apparent internal decay, collapsed on them,” the statement read in part.
He added that operatives attached to the 9th Mile Division responded swiftly after receiving the distress report and, with the assistance of community members, rescued four persons trapped in the wreckage and secured the area.
“Regrettably, the eleven other victims were rushed to the hospital but were later confirmed dead by attending doctors. Their remains have been deposited in the mortuary for further necessary procedures,” Ndukwe stated.
Police said further investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Credit:Punch
