Owerri – Thirty one persons were killed when a tree at the Ukwu Uko evening market at Umuejinwaoke Umudagu village, Mbieri, Mbaitolu Local Government Area, Imo, fell on them.
16 others sustained degrees of injuries during the incident, which was caused by rainstorm on Thursday night.
A resident of the community, Mr Nnaemeka Emenyonu, said in Owerri that the tree fell on the affected persons around 8:00 p.m.
He said the tree also destroyed the village hall.
“The big tree fell suddenly on 31 people, who died at the spot and injured 16 others. Those injured were taken to hospital.
“The victims include two sisters, who sell tomatoes. Honestly, this is a saddest event in the history of our community,” he said.
The traditional ruler of the community, Eze Godwin Duru, lamented that such a tragic incident had never occurred in the community.
“I do not know what to say. God, what can we call this?, My people were destroyed within a twinkle of an eye. what a pity,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Joy Elemoko, declined comment on the incident after several efforts to get the command’s reaction to the issue. (NAN)
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/tree-kills-31-injures-16-in-imo/

What can i say! RIP

Imo has been in the news for the wrong reasons lately.

I tink d state of emergency shld b der..2 prevent d insugency of trees..buh RIP to d dead..

Are they sure about that number! how big is the width of the tree to crush 31 people at d same time.....papers can really blow up news to make it draw attention

may the souls of the dead rest in peace & quick recovery 4 the injured ;(;(;(

I suspect that kind of tree has lived for between 40 to 50 years or more and it was there becos of ancenstral link or where d spirit of their gods meet. It was in my village market square b4 it was hacked down some years ago. I'm 4m Imo too. RIP to them, people should be ready to meet their creator anytime,anywhere and anyhow. Ndi o metutara, amara na udo diri unu

billante: Are they sure about that number! how big is the width of the tree to crush 31 people at d same time.....papers can really blow up news to make it draw attention

They might be together in a building or under a shade, when the rain started

Aw sad? That's a huge number owing to 1 tree

Natural disaster. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace.

Thank God i left there 30mins befor it happend.

haaaaa what kind of big tree killed 31 people? besides what is the gravity speed of such tree that could have killed such large numbers? this story no compute o

fatdon2: Thank God i left there 30mins befor it happend.

please how big is that tree?

what a loss cause by just a tree

fatdon2: Thank God i left there 30mins befor it happend.

if it is true thank God for your life.

Dem no see the tree dey fall ni

The gods are angry.

31 pple ke? Haba! Na mountain? Dats 2 much...anyway R.I.P 2 d dead... Imo state with their badnews dis dayz...

obadiah777: EXXPECT MORE DEATHS AND DEVASTATION. THIS IS JUDGEMENT PERIOD. WATCH THE FRONTPAGE FOR THE INCREASE IN INTENSITY OF DEATHS.

since u join nairaland u av been posting rubbish..

Dis is a calamity, it is painful... May der soul rest in perfect peace. IMO STATE SHULD B PRAYED 4

R.I.P

I blame GEJ and Rochas 4 dis deaths due to bad Governance. May the souls of the departed Rest Peacefully in the Bossom of the Lord and May God grant their Families the Fortitude to bear the Loss

Its generally not save to stay under trees during rain storms. This because of the possibility of it falling on people on people taking shade under it. Also people who take cover under trees are at risk of being burnt by lightening strike.

RIP to the dead. May God grant the deceased family fortitude to bear the loss

WoW! It must be extremely large. God heal their pains.

RIP to the dead. I think the social media is killing the humane side of people a lot that they make jest of news like this.
News it might be but it is still about death and we will all go down that lane.
My condolence

blame gej -> e-oppostion
RIP 2 d dead

May God Almighty accept the souls of the departed! Amen

RIP!!!

Blazey J: I tink d state of emergency shld b der..2 prevent d insugency of trees..buh RIP to d dead..

Not funny. Booo!!!