A total of four dead bodies have been recovered in Jattu Market, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State following some trees that fell during a heavy downpour on Monday morning, while efforts are ongoing to see if there are still other bodies under the trees.
The Chairman of the Local Government Council, Mr Marvellous Zibiri confirmed the death of the four persons while speaking to newsmen at the market.
He said, “At about 8:am or 9:am, I got a call from my Vice Chairman and the Supervisory Council for Environment about the incident that happened at the Jattu market.
“During the rainfall, four trees in the market fell simultaneously while people took cover under the trees thereby killing four people and many injured.
” So far, we have been able to recover four people’s bodies and we have taken them to the mortuary while those who sustain injuries are at the hospital responding to treatment,” Zibiri said.
He added that a rescue operation is still ongoing at the scene as the trees are being sawn down in pieces to confirm if there are other bodies under the trees.
The Chairman described the incident as a tragedy and sympathised with families who lost their loved ones at the market.
He, however, appealed to residents of the local government to stay indoors whenever it rains.