Posted by Chinenye on Wed 09th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
A desperate rescue attempt turned tragic in Awka after a woman was swept into raging floodwaters during a heavy storm.
(Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. Photo by Punch News)
A tricycle operator, whose name is yet unknown, d!ed trying to rescue a woman who got caught in floodwaters on Monday night in Awka, Anambra State.
The woman remains missing.
The incident happened at Miracle Junction on Ifite Road during heavy rain and thunderstorms.
Eyewitness Kelvin said two women were walking along the road when one of them lost her footing and fell into the raging floodwaters.
The other woman tried to help her, but the flood was too strong.
A tricycle operator in his 40s saw what was happening and went down to rescue the trapped woman.
However, when he reached her, the powerful floodwaters swept both of them away.
Neighbours heard their cries for help before the voices stopped.
His lifeless body was found in a flood channel near Book Foundation on Tuesday morning, but the woman's whereabouts remain unknown.
Kelvin described the scene: heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms pulled down fences and even an SUV parked in a compound was crushed by a falling fence.
The floodwaters were so strong that residents could only watch helplessly from their homes as the two people were swept away.
When a news platform visited the area on Tuesday, security operatives had arrived to remove the body and government officials were assessing the damage.
The heavy rainfall and thunderstorms destroyed rooftops and fences across the area.
A government official, speaking privately, said an investigation has started to find the missing woman and determine if blocked drainage channels made the flooding worse.
Residents were warned to be careful during rainfall and to clear drainage channels around their homes.
Officials urged people to stop dumping refuse in drains and waterways, as blocked channels worsen flooding and can lead to preventable disasters.