A fatal accident occurred on Tuesday in Awhum, Enugu State, when a large ancestral tree known locally as “Ukwu Akpu Awhum” fell on a fully loaded 18-seater commercial bus, killing all 18 passengers on board.
The bus, which was en route from Ukehe to Enugu metropolis, was caught in heavy rain and a thunderstorm when the tree collapsed, according to eyewitnesses.
Sources at the scene said commuters were trapped under the massive trunk, prompting a chaotic rescue effort.
Charly Okeke, a resident of the community, expressed shock over the incident, noting that while the tree had shed branches in the past, it had never resulted in fatalities.
Rescue teams reportedly rushed to the site to recover victims, while authorities are yet to release an official statement on the tragedy.
