200-Year-Old Iroko Tree Kills 31 Persons, Leaves 16 Others Injured In Imo State

It was tears and anguish in Umudagu, Mbieri community in Mbaitoli council area of Imo state as no fewer than 31 persons have been confirmed dead following the fall of an ancestral ‘Uko’  tree estimated to have been over 200 years in existence.

The tree which during a rainstorm also left scores of persons injured and about 7 others either buried in the rubble or missing. The size of the disaster was occasioned by the fact that under the tree is a location of a popular night market simply described as “Ukwu Uko market” meaning the market under the ‘Uko’ tree.

Seven feared dead in Onitsha rainstorm

No fewer than seven persons died while four persons were missing as thousands of residents of Onitsha, Anambra State counted their losses after their homes and property were destroyed in a downpour that occurred Sunday night.

Although three bodies were found after the rainstorm, the four missing people were feared to have been swept into River Niger.

Two of the bodies found were that of the occupants of a Toyota Camry car, whose identities could not be determined. They were swept into a large drainage channel and their bodies recovered with the use of a crane.

The missing people were occupants of a tricycle, which was feared to have been swept into River Niger. There was another corpse near the Kate Bus stop.

Residents affected were mainly in the Woliwo, Nwangene, Silas Works, Housing Estate, Bida Road, Creek Road, and adjoining areas.