The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says four persons have so far been rescued while two others remain missing after flooding wreaked havoc on a community in the Oriole Agege area of Lagos State on Saturday.
Zonal Coordinator, South-West of the Agency, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye who confirmed this said that the incident involved two vehicles, including a Lexus Jeep and a Toyota which had three occupants.
He noted that the six persons had been swept away when rainwater overflowed an uncompleted canal in the area. He explained that residents reportedly warned the people in the vehicles to desist from passing through the road but they were adamant and drove through.
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Farinloye however explained that one of the occupants, seeing that the drivers refused to listen to warnings, dropped down from the vehicle.
Recall that the Lagos State government had in March, warned residents of the state of incoming heavy rains, amounting to 1,750mm in 2022, with attendant socio-economic implications for residents of the state.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello gave the warning during a media briefing on the 2022 Seasonal Climate Predictions in Lagos, held in Alausa, Ikeja.
Bello said that the predicted onset, cessation and rainfall amount of 2022 is similar to the prediction for 2021, and the implication is that we are anticipating experiencing a rain pattern of high intensity and frequency similar to that of 2021.
While urging residents not to panic, as every arrangement has been put in place to ensure adequate protection of lives and property, he noted that Lagos Island is expected to have a rainfall onset date of April 6, cessation date of November 30 and a total rainfall amount of 1627mm.
At the time of this report, rescuers from both the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) as well as those from the fire service were still searching for the two missing persons at the time of this report.
Story was adapted from Punch.
