A tragic incident unfolded on Tuesday afternoon along the Aba-Owerri Road, near the GIA Event Centre and Salad Market, as a massive iron billboard collapsed on several commercial tricycles, leaving many feared dead and others trapped beneath the debris.
According to social media reports eyewitnesses at the scene described a sudden, thunderous crash as the structure gave way and came crashing down on unsuspecting motorists.
Emergency responders had yet to arrive at the time of filing this report, as residents and passersby made frantic efforts to rescue victims from the wreckage.
“The scene is chaotic. People are crying and trying to lift the heavy metal sheets off the trapped victims,” said a local trader who witnessed the incident.
While the exact number of casualties remains unclear, several injured individuals have reportedly been rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Imo State quthorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the cause of the collapse or the total number of victims involved.
The incident has caused significant traffic disruption along the busy Aba-Owerri Road, with security personnel expected to cordon off the area for safety and investigation.
This incident has cast a pall of sorrow over the city, as residents pray for the safety of those affected.
