TheCable

Two yet-to-be-identified children were swept away in a flooding incident on Saturday at Oyebanjo street in the Ketu area of Lagos state. 

Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, director-general of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) who confirmed the incident, said a joint team of responders have commenced a search-and-rescue operation.

Residents of the area said the heavy downpour during the day caused a canal to overflow, consequently flooding the area.

“On arrival at the scene of the incident, it was discovered that, around 8pm, two children had been caught up by flood water,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

“A joint team of responders comprising Agency responders, LASG Fire Service and LASAMBUS were at the scene. The Agency’s tiger team commenced a search-and-rescue operation along the path of the flood water.

“Initial observations revealed a sloping topography with a direct channel of drain water into the canal. This has proven to be rather challenging to navigate.

“Members of the public are urged to exercise extreme caution, particularly with young children, in flood-prone and low-lying areas.”

A witness told TheCable that by the time the rescue team from LASEMA arrived, little could be done to rescue the victims  as the area was dark and still flooded.

According to him, another child was saved from being carried away by the current.

“LASEMA and ambulance eventually arrived. But there was nothing they could do, as everywhere was in total darkness and the canal was still over flooded. The last boy that fell in was rescued and taken back home. We can only pray for a miracle for those swept away,” the witness said.

“While I thank everyone and especially LASEMA and the Lagos state rescue team, I would like to still beg for the attention of the Lagos state government and the ministry of environment to help check on the shoddy job being carried out here to avert further disaster.

“We need a major canal, not a canal converted to a big gutter. The amount of water that passes through the channel is huge. Already, a lot of homes have been affected.”

Rescue operation was still on as of the time of filing this report.