At least four persons, including a woman and her child, have been reportedly killed by trees that fell on them at the popular Jattu market in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Several others, including traders and shoppers, sustained various degrees of injuries in the incident.
It was gathered that about four trees fell simultaneously on traders and customers in the market following a heavy morning downpour on the morning of Monday, 8 July, 2024 morning.
It was gathered that a mother and her child were among the victims.
The Chairman of the Local Government, Marvellous Zibiri, who spoke to newsmen confirmed that four persons lost their lives.
However, at the plenary of the Edo State House of Assembly, a lawmaker, Abdulganniyu Akokhia said over 10 persons were reported to have died in the incident.
“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,” the LG Chairman said.
According to Zibiri, 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.
