Heavy rainfall in less than one week has swept away two children in Lagos State.
The latest incident was on Monday when many parts of the State experienced heavy rainfall that lasted several hours. Ayisat, 17, was swept away by flood at Alafuja Close in Surulere Low-Cost Housing Estate.
Many residents of the Estate reportedly rushed out in search of the girl in drainages and canals but did not find her.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident, adding that it occurred following persistent rainfall in the State.
The LASEMA Boss said search and rescue efforts had been expanded to nearby water channels, adding that the outcome would determine whether to go beyond the Surulere area.
On June 18, emergency officials responding to a flood incident at Orile Agege, said that a 4-year-old girl died while going to a safe location with her parents. LASEMA said although the victim had not been found, search and rescue would continue.
“Upon arrival of the LRT at the incident scene in the company of NEMA officials, it was gathered from residents that a 4 year old girl named Azeezat fell into a flooded big ditch/gutter while escaping to safety with her family in the wee hours of the night after their compound was submerged,” Mr Oke-Osanyintolu stated.
The LASEMA boss attributed the June 18 flood in the wake of heavy rainfall at Orile Agege which displaced over 20 families, to barriers blocking drainage channels that prevented the flood from flowing freely.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, condoled residents whose properties got damaged and those displaced by the flood. He said Lagos is a coastal state and that heavy rainfall brought a backflow from the Lagoon, causing a flash flood.
He urged residents living in low lying areas to relocate during rainy season. He noted that although the State government was intensifying efforts to clean and clear drainage channels across the states, residents should desist from dumping refuse in them and stop encroaching on the right of way of canals.
- PHOTOS: After 48 Days in Hospital, Boy Labelled Witch and Abandoned is Discharged - August 8, 2021
- Travellers Complain Over Fly Infested Aminu Kano Airport - August 6, 2021
- Ondo 2020: Mimiko Criticises Akeredolu’s Performance - September 28, 2020