Four people were reportedly killed at the popular Jattu Market in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State following the heavy trees that fell on them during the early morning rain on Monday.
This is even as scores of others were seriously injured by the incident, which, according to eyewitnesses, caused tension and sorrow in the locality.
Confirming the report while speaking with journalists, the Chairman of the Council, Mr Marvellous Zibiri, said: “At about 8:am and 9:am, 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 sustain injuries are at the hospital responsible for treatment.”
Zibiri added that rescue operations are still ongoing at the scene as the trees are being sawn down in pieces to confirm if there are other bodies under.
He described the incident as tragic and sympathised with families who lost their loved ones at the market, just as he appealed to residents of the local government to stay indoors whenever it rained.
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