FALLEN trees, owing to early Monday morning torrential downpour, have killed four people at the popular Jattu Market in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

Witnesses said some people also sustained severe injuries, throwing the area into sorrow.

The fallen killer-trees

Chairman of the local government, Mr Marvellous Zibiri, shed more light on the incident.

“At about 8:00a.m and 9:00a.m, I got a call from my Vice Chairman and the Supervisory Council for Environment about the incident that happened at the Jattu Market.

“During the rainfall, trees around the market fell simultaneously while people took cover, thereby killing four people and injuring many more.

“So far, we have been able to recover four dead bodies, and we have taken them to the mortuary, while those who sustained injuries are at the hospital responsible for treatment,” he disclosed.

Zibiri added that though rescue operations are still ongoing at the scene, the fallen trees are being sawn to pieces to confirm if there are still other bodies under.

Having described the incident as tragic, Zibiri condoled with families who lost their loved ones.

He, however, appealed to residents of the local government to avoid taking shelter under trees, but stay indoors to avert future occurrence.

By stonixnews