TheCable

Three people were killed in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Sunday after a heavy flood.

The flood, caused by a downpour, submerged vehicles, leaving several properties destroyed.

Akinfolanre Olowofele, a resident at Trademore Estate in Lugbe area of AMAC, described the incident as a “huge loss”.

He said about seven persons were reported dead in the area.

“Around 9:30, that was when the rain started. Around quarter past 10 pm, it subsided a while. Then about 11pm, the rain became so worse, that was how the flood started and we began to hear people’s voices calling for help,” he told TheCable.

“Six corpses were picked and I learned that the village behind this estate here — they also have casualties there, they have about seven corpses that were picked there.”

Justine Uwazuruonye, head of Abuja operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told TheCable that three persons were found dead during rescue efforts.

“It is really disastrous. So many houses flooded with personal properties destroyed. Above all, lives were lost — three lives for now,” he said.

“We have asked residents to report to the police if they have anybody that is missing so that the search will continue till tomorrow — so that we won’t call off the search.

“We have so many vehicles, close to 15 vehicles trapped in the mud. So we are trying to move the vehicles out. So far, all the stakeholders have been cooperating.

“There is a rapid assessment going on; we are trying to know the level of destruction when it comes to cost.”

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