Four members of the same family have reportedly died after an Enugu landslide triggered by torrential rainfall caused an elevated water tank to collapse onto their home in Nenwenta, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The tragedy occurred over the weekend after heavy rainfall reportedly caused a landslide in the community, weakening the ground around the structure supporting the water tank. The tank subsequently collapsed onto the residential building, trapping members of the family beneath the debris.
The victims were identified as a man, his wife, his elderly mother and one of their children. The force of the collapse reportedly flattened the building, leaving the family trapped under the rubble as residents and emergency workers attempted to reach the scene.
A four-year-old child was rescued alive from the debris and taken for medical attention. Videos from the scene showed residents gathered around the damaged building while rescue workers searched through the rubble for survivors.
The Enugu State House of Assembly later confirmed that four people died in the incident, bringing greater clarity to the conflicting casualty figures that circulated in some early reports.
Enugu Landslide Cuts Off Nenwenta and Ugwueme
The Enugu landslide has also affected movement around Nenwenta and neighbouring Ugwueme communities after the disaster reportedly damaged the road linking the communities to other parts of the state.
The road disruption has created difficulties for residents and emergency responders, particularly because access to the affected communities became more challenging following the heavy rainfall and landslide. Reports said residents travelling to other parts of Enugu have had to use routes through neighbouring Abia and Imo states.
Anthony Nwankwo, who represents Awgu South State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, raised the incident during the Assembly’s proceedings through a motion of urgent public importance.
Nwankwo described the tragedy as devastating and expressed concern that the victims might have had a chance of surviving if the affected communities had remained accessible to emergency responders. He consequently called on the House to engage relevant government authorities and ensure that the road leading to Nenwenta and Ugwueme is reopened.
Other lawmakers who contributed to the motion sympathised with the affected family and residents of the communities. They also described the incident as a natural disaster and called for urgent action to prevent further casualties.
The lawmakers urged the Enugu State Ministry of Works, the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency and the Ecological Fund Office to intervene in the situation. They called for the restoration of road access to Nenwenta and Ugwueme to ease movement and improve emergency response in the affected areas.
Lawmakers Warn Against Unsafe Construction
The Enugu State House of Assembly also raised concerns about activities that could increase the vulnerability of communities located around hills and unstable terrain.
Lawmakers advised residents to exercise caution when constructing buildings close to hills and warned against reckless excavation of soil and stones. According to the lawmakers, such activities could increase the risk of landslides, particularly when combined with heavy rainfall.
The warning comes as the affected communities continue to deal with the consequences of the disaster, including restricted movement and concerns over access to emergency services.
The incident has highlighted the dangers that severe rainfall and unstable terrain can pose to communities, particularly where homes, roads and other structures are located close to vulnerable slopes.
For residents of Nenwenta and Ugwueme, restoring the damaged road remains an immediate concern because reliable access is important not only for everyday movement but also for emergency response during future incidents.
The Assembly has therefore urged the relevant authorities to act quickly to reopen the affected route and address the wider impact of the landslide. The call is aimed at reducing the difficulties faced by residents and ensuring that emergency workers can reach the communities more easily if another incident occurs.
The death of the four family members has left the community mourning, while the survival of the four-year-old child provides a significant point of relief amid the tragedy. Authorities and community leaders are now expected to focus on restoring access and addressing safety concerns in the affected areas.
