- The mishap also left many people, including traders and shoppers, with various degrees of injuries.
Tragedy struck in Edo State after four persons were crushed to death by falling trees.
The incident happened at the popular Jattu market in Etsako West Local Government Area of the State.
The mishap also left many people, including traders and shoppers, with various degrees of injuries.
It’s gathered that about four trees came crashing down simultaneously and fell on traders and customers in the market after a heavy morning downpour on Monday morning.
The chairman of the Local Government, Marvellous Zibiri, confirmed the incident to newsmen.
According to him, four persons, including a mother and her child, lost their lives.
A member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Abdulganniyu Akokhia also confirmed the incident at a plenary.
He, however, said 10 persons were reported to have lost their lives in the incident.
The LG chairman said, “Around 8:00 am and 9:00 am, I got a call from my vice chairman and the supervisory councillor for environment about the incident that happened at Jattu market.
“During the rainfall four trees in the market fell simultaneously while people were taking cover under the trees, thereby killing four persons and many injured.
“So far, we have been able to recover four bodies and we have taken them to the mortuary while those who sustained injuries are at the hospital responding to treatment.”
Zibiri added that a rescue operation is still ongoing at the scene as the trees are being cut in pieces, to ascertain if there are other bodies under the trees.
The council chairman, who described the incident as tragic, also sympathized with families who lost their loved ones at the market.
He, however, appealed to residents of the local government to stay indoors whenever it rains