Emergency responders have rescued three persons from a Lexus Jeep that was swept away by heavy flood around Oyatoki area of Agege, Lagos State.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the Zonal Coordinator, South-West, National Emergency Management Agency, on Saturday in Lagos.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), while confirming the incident on Saturday, said three were rescued, one of them jumped out of the vehicle and was pulled to safety while the two others were pulled from the waters.
The Southwest Coordinator NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, explained that four of the victims have been rescued, while two are still missing.
Rescuers from both the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and those from 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.
All six were travelling in a Lexus jeep and a Toyota car which were overwhelmed by the overflow of an uncompleted canal in the area.
According to him, the six persons were reported to have been swept away when rainwater overflowed an uncompleted canal in the area.
“The residents reportedly warned the people in the vehicles to desist from passing through the road but they were adamant, but drove through, and they were swept away.
“One of the people in the Toyota refused, dropped down from the vehicle, the other two drove and they are the only ones missing presently.
“All together, three rescued alive, one jumped out to safety, while the remaining two are missing,” he said.
Farinloye said emergency responders on the ground included the Lagos State Fire Service, NEMA, LASEMA, the Police and other responders from the community.
“Search and rescue operations are ongoing in search of the other two persons.
“The community members were mobilised due to the fact that they know the terrain of the canal and successfully rescued the four persons,” he added.
According to members of the community, they were able to rescue the three people because they knew the terrain.
Residents said they had warned them not to pass through the road but they were adamant about continuing their journey.
Meanwhile, search and rescue operations are ongoing for the other 2 people.
Lagos is a city very familiar with flooding, especially during the rainy season which typically starts in April and ends in July, sometimes extending towards the end of the year before harmattan.
Two weeks ago, roads and houses were flooded and property was destroyed in Lagos after a downpour that lasted for hours.
The rain witnessed in many areas of the state caught many residents and passengers unaware as they ran to shelter stands to avoid being soaked.
Areas such as Ojodu Berger, Ikosi-Ketu, Gbagada, Surulere, Ikorodu and others witnessed the rain.
As part of measures to contain the situation, the Lagos State Government announced the diversion of traffic along Oba Ogunji Road, Ogba for one week for the installation of a precast concrete culvert across Metal Box Road.
The diversion which started on June 28 ended on July 5 to provide lasting solutions to the flooding issues on some roads in the metropolis.
With NAN report
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