Four persons have been confirmed dead by trees which fell in the popular Jattu market in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State following a heavy rain yesterday morning.
The local government chairman, Mr. Marvellous Zibiri, who confirmed the incident while speaking to newsmen at the market, said he got a call at about 8am and 9am from his vice and the supervisory council for Environment about the incident.
According to him, “During the rainfall four trees in the market fell simultaneously while people took cover under the trees,thereby killing four persons and many injured.
“So far we have been able to recover four person’s bodies and we have taken them to the mortuary while those who sustain injuries are at the hospital responsible to treatment.”
Zibiri added that rescue operation was still ongoing at the scene as the trees were being chopped in pieces to confirm if they were other bodies.
The chairman described the incident as tragic, as he sympathised with families who lost their loves ones at the market.
He, however, appealed to residents of the local government to stay indoors whenever it rained.
Jattu Market is the community market of immediate deputy governor of Edo, Comrade Philip Shaibu.
