Eight construction workers drown in Enugu underground water tank

Tragedy struck in Igogoro, Enugu-Ezike community of Igboeze North Local Government Area, Enugu State on Monday evening as eight youths got drowned in an underground water tank.

It was gathered that the first victim fell into the well, then the second person tried to rescue him and fell into it until the eighth person. The last of the victims was said to have died on the way to the hospital while others died instantly.

The cause of death was not immediately clear but there are speculations that it may have been out of ignorance as the victims tried to suck water out of the well by using a pumping machine.

An eyewitness said: “The machine was started and lowered into the pit. The operator entered the well and collapsed, maybe as a result of the fumes (carbon monoxide). Others were entering to help in the rescue effort but got trapped too.”

The state police command confirmed the death of eight persons in the underground tank. The statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu yesterday stated that a yet to be identified worker got trapped in the tank in the site in the process of evacuating water. After waiting for a while without hearing from the worker, others started climbing into the tank to offer help but were also trapped inside and became unconscious.

Amaraizu said the victims were later “recovered by other sympathizers and police operatives who raced to the scene and rushed them to General Hospital Ogurute, Nsukka, where the doctor on duty confirmed them dead.”He expressed shock over the incident. Describing it as unfortunate, he said a full-scale investigation had commenced.

Six of the eight victims were reported to be indigenes of Amachalla community that share boundary with Igogoro village. Pained by the incident, an indigene of the community, Jude Ugwu, said: “Honestly, I don’t understand. This is arguably the highest tragedy ever in my village. I am very sad. I hate people falling sick not to talk of dying so cheaply. This calls for prayers and God’s intervention.”