A primary six pupil was reportedly swept away by flood in the Ikosi-Ketu area of Lagos State yesterday. This followed a persistent rainfall in the state that commenced in the early hours of the day and continued through a better part of the day.
The victim identified simply as Joshua was said to be returning from school with his colleagues when the tragic incident happened around 2pm on Taiwo Street, Ikosi area of the state.
This is just as seven occupants, including a one year old baby girl, were rescued alive from a collapsed two storey building at the Mushin area of Lagos State, following the heavy downpour. The rescued victims have been rushed to a hospital for medical attention.
According to an eye eyewitness, the unfortunate incident happened around10 am, during the early morning downpour in the state. The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke Osanyintolu, who confirmed this in a statement yesterday said the incident happened at No. 12, Cameron Str. of Ewenla, Mushin, Lagos.
The LASEMA Response Team was said to have arrived at the scene of the incident and discovered that a newly constructed two storey building had collapsed.
“Seven people, three female and four male, were rescued alive and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. “The agency’s search and rescue team have searched the rubble and can confirm that there is no victim underneath the collapsed building.
“The area has been cordoned off and operation has been concluded in the area.” He added that the agency and other key responders were on high alert. He also urged Lagos residents to remain calm and refrain from any non-essential travels due to the incidence of flash flood across the state.
Meanwhile, The Lagos state government has called for calm, reassuring residents that the “flash flood” yesterday will recede with time. Oke-Osanyintolu, attributed the flooding in major parts of Lagos to the state’s topography and climate change. He said: “The Agency and other key responders are on high alert in case of any emergency.
We urge the good people of Lagos to remain calm and refrain from any non-essential travel due to the incidence of flash floods across the State.
They are already beginning to dissipate.” Recall that several parts of Lagos were submerged following a heavy downpour that began early yesterday, disrupting daily life and displacing residents.
Major roads, houses, and businesses were inundated, leaving passengers stranded and motorists marooned. On Ago Palace Way, Lagos Mainland, traffic came to a standstill as the flooding rendered many roads nearly impassable, creating chaos for residents attempting to go about their daily routines.