Four persons have been confirmed dead from some trees which fell at the famous Jattu Market in Etsako West local government area of Edo State following a heavy downpour yesterday morning.
The council chairman, Mr Marvellous Zibiri, confirmed the death of the persons during a chat with newsmen at the market.
He said, “At about 8:am and 9:am, I got a call from my vice chairman and the supervisory councillor for environment about the incident at the market.
“During the rainfall, four trees in the market fell simultaneously while people took cover under them, thereby killing four persons and many injured. So far, we have been able to recover four people’s bodies, and we have taken them to the mortuary while those who sustained injuries are at the hospital for treatment.”
He added that a rescue operation is still ongoing at the scene as the trees are being sawn down in pieces to confirm if there are other bodies under the trees.
The chairman described the incident as a tragedy and sympathised with families who lost their loved ones at the market.
He, however, appealed to local government residents to stay indoors whenever it rains.