NEMA Says Weekend Floods Kill Seven People In Lagos
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday evening, revealed that seven people, including three siblings, died as a result of flood caused by heavy downpours on Friday and Saturday in Lagos,
NEMA said the seven deaths were recorded at Oke Isagun, Orile-Agege, Lagos and Akute in Ogun State.
NEMA’s Lagos Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, in the updates on the post-disaster assessment, informed that the siblings identified as Michael, 18, Elizabeth, 17, and Timi, 14, were swept by flood at an uncompleted building belonging to Mercy of Christ Apostolic Church where they resided.
He said available information indicated that they were swept by flood while attempting to relocate from their room to the main church structure.
According to the report, in the course of moving through a connecting plank, Timi, said to be asthmatic, slipped and the other siblings in a bid to rescue him, were also swept off by the heavy flood.
Farinloye said NEMA delegation visited the community on condolence mission but also used the opportunity to remind the leaders about flood sensitisation.
“An appeal was made to them that for the rest of the year, the community must embark on awareness and sensitisation campaigns on safe actions to avoid the situation that they experienced during the period.
“The community leaders also informed NEMA that in the same community four children of the same parents were also swept away on the same day but the community members rallied round and rescued them.
Members of the Programme CDA briefed NEMA that rainwater from Meiran, Abbatoir, Alagbado, Agege and Toll gate converged and channelled to their community’” he said.
Farinloye said two deaths were recorded at Oyatoki in Orile-Agege when flash flood swept off Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and another two deaths recorded at Alagnole – Akute Road by Four Gate Hotel, Akute, a Lagos border community.
“The follow-up story on the Oyatoki, Orile Agege flood remains four rescued alive and two dead.
“NEMA was at the scene for a post emergency phase assessment and met Honourable Adejare, Member, House of Representative representing Agege Federal Constituency who was on condolence and assessment visit to the area.
“He directed the community members to block the road to prevent vehicular movement anytime they observed that the rainfall is intense and may cause havoc.
“He promised to liaise with the Local Government Authority and the Divisional Police Officer on this advice in order to save lives.
“Another two male adults were swept away while trying to cross over a road along Alagnole -Akute by Four Gate Hotel.
“The third male adult that was saved is still on admission in the hospital but recovering fast.
“Other areas that have serious impacts but did not involve lives are: Mushin, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Agege and Eti Osa LGAs,” said Farinloye.
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