Several Travellers Reported De@d As Falling Tree Crushes 18-Seater Bus In Enugu (Video)

A tragic incident occurred Tuesday night along the Ukwu Akpu Awhum axis in Enugu State when a massive tree, brought down by heavy rainfall, crashed onto a moving commercial bus, claiming the lives of several passengers.

Residents said the incident occurred during a torrential downpour accompanied by strong winds, which uprooted the tree and sent it crashing onto the highway, directly onto an 18-seater bus reportedly heading towards 9th Mile. 

Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the impact caused the bus to lose control and overturn, leaving the vehicle badly mangled and trapping many passengers inside.

“The rain was very heavy and the wind was strong. Suddenly we heard a loud crash. When we rushed out, we saw that a big tree had fallen on a bus,” a resident of the area said.

Another witness described the scene as horrific. “The bus was completely crushed. People were trapped inside and screaming for help. It was a terrible sight,” he said.

Local sources claimed that the accident involved a fully loaded 18-seater bus and a car, with fears that multiple lives were lost in the crash.

“Ukwu Akpu Awhum has fallen tonight and claimed the lives of passengers in an 18-seater bus and a car. If you know anyone travelling this route, please check on them,” a community member warned in a message circulated shortly after the incident.

Emergency responders from the locality, including community volunteers and local vigilante groups, were reportedly the first to arrive at the scene. 

Despite battling rain-slicked roads and poor visibility, they worked frantically to rescue survivors and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.

“They tried their best in the rain. Some of the injured were rushed to hospitals immediately,” another resident said.

Preliminary accounts suggest that strong winds during the downpour may have been responsible for toppling the tree onto the busy highway.

The incident has thrown the Awhum community into mourning, with residents calling for urgent assessment of roadside trees and improved emergency response measures to prevent future tragedies.

SaharaReporters' efforts to speak with the Enugu State Police Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe were unsuccessful as he did not take his calls or respond to a text message seeking his comment as at the time of filing this report.

WATCH: Fallen Tree Crushes 18-Seater Bus In Enugu, Several Travellers Reported Dead pic.twitter.com/1veLRM3BnK

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) February 18, 2026