Juliana Francis
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has rescued nine people trapped in a sinking storey building at 47 Akinwunmi Street, Akinwunmi North Estate Mende, Maryland, Lagos State.
According to eyewitness accounts, the landlord of the building had used a ladder to escape immediately after he sensed that the building was sinking.
The landlord, who returned to the scene to know what had become of his sinking tenants, had been arrested and handed over to the police for abandoning his tenants in the face of likely disaster and death.
When asked why he did not contact emergency responders, he could not give a coherent response. It was one of the trapped victims that contacted NEMA.
Our reporter gathered that the torrential rainfall affected some communities in Lagos State. At least 35 buildings on Akinwumi Estate were affected. Similarly, 31 buildings on Arowojobe Estate, Ebun Otti-Estate were also seriously impacted. Also, some other communities affected are Agboyi Ketu, Kosofe and Ifelodun Ajeromi areas were also affected in Alimosho. It was also gathered that slums in Mende areas were also seriously affected.
According to NEMA’s Zonal Coordinator, Southwest, Ibrahim Farinloye, the agency rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call about the nine trapped people.
He said: “The torrential rainfall which lasted about four hours in the early hours of the day flooded lots of communities in Lagos. NEMA advance team close observations called for more reinforcement of personnel.”
One of the trapped victims, Blessing said that they were nine people, primarily women trapped in the sinking storey building.
The Agencies now are LASEMA, State Fire Service and Police Disaster Management Unit. All the nine trapped ladies have been successfully rescued and rescue activities have commenced
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