Tragedy struck on Sunday evening at a village market in Umuchu town in Anambra State southeast of Nigeria after a trailer driver lost control due to brake failure and killed many people. At least 25 died on the spot and more than 40 people were seriously injured and were rushed to various hospitals in the area.
Their chances of survival were uncertain as many have reportedly died on the way to the hospital. The incident happened at the village market called Afor in Ibughubu in Umuch in Aguata local government at about 5.30 pm.
The victims, mostly the indigienes, had gathered at the market square to watch masquerades after the annual new yam festival held the previous day when the incident happened. The causality included some masquerades hit by the trailer and they died on the spot. Apart from the deaths and injured victims, many properties were destroyed including market structures and vehicles parked within the market.
The trailer with failed brake system
TheNEWS gathered that the driver of the trailer which was loaded with planks lost control after the trailer’s brake failed on a slope before the market. The driver and the conductor survived after the incident and were apprehended by the angry youths in the community who wanted to mob them. But through the intervention of community leaders, they waer rescued and handed over to the police at Umuchu division.
Three ambulances van and police vehicles raced to the scene and were busy carrying corpses to mortuary and the surviving victims were taken to a hospital.
As at the time of filing this report, corpses were still being recovered at the scene of the accident. The community has been thrown into mourning because many families were affected as a result of the incident. (The News)
