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2019 : Floods destroy 2,714 houses, claim 10 lives in Niger state- Official

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Prepare for devastating flood, NIHSA alerts Edo, Bayelsa, 3 other states

…Japan typhoon death toll climbs to 74, rescuers search for missing people***

Mr Ibrahim Inga, the Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), on Wednesday said the 2019 floods destroyed 2,714 houses and claimed 10 lives in the state.

Inga disclosed this when he appeared before the Niger State House of Assembly to brief it on the agency’s activities in 2019.

He said that a total of 21, 223 people were affected by the disaster in 20 local government areas with 123 communities submerged.

“The floods, which began in August as a result of a localised high intensity rainfall accompanied by torrential winds, triggered massive run off activities in streams and rivers.

“These violent river behaviours resulted in loss of 10 lives with some roads, bridges, culverts and residential buildings badly affected by the force of the water. 

“These excess waters have inundated several hectares of farmlands and displaced some dwellers in hinterland communities,” he added.

Also read:Flood drowns Gas retailer, throwing Magboro residents into mourning

He said the agency could not sufficiently respond to the disaster as it had exhausted its N200m capital budget for 2019 before the flooding season.

“The agency may not have responded with relief interventions due to the reasons mentioned but had acted within the conduct of the above assessment exercise.

“In view of the above therefore, the agency has requested for an emergency supplementary budget wallet,” he said.

According to him, in addition to its assessment exercise, the agency has forwarded request for assistance in favour of the victims from donor partners.

In the meantime, rescue workers in Japan continued the search for the missing on Wednesday as the death toll from one of the worst typhoons to hit the country rose to 74, public broadcaster, NHK, said.

Also many drowned by flooding after scores of rivers burst their banks.

Public broadcaster, NHK, said 12 were missing and more than 220 injured after Typhoon Hagibis lashed through the Japanese archipelago at the weekend.

Throughout the eastern half of the main island of Honshu, 52 rivers had flooded over.
Residents in Fukushima prefecture, which has seen the highest number of casualties, were busy dumping water-damaged furniture and rubbish onto the streets.

Many elderly remained in evacuation centers, unable to clean up their homes.

In Date city, not far from the site of the nuclear disaster in 2011, farmer Masao Hirayama piled damp books in the street in front of his house, adding to a mound of rubbish from the neighbourhood.

He said the water had reached about two meters (6.6 feet) deep in his house when he and his son were rescued by boat and taken to an evacuation center.

His wife and grandchildren had stayed with relatives through the storm.

“I feel down,” Hirayama, 70, said, adding that the flood had swept away all his green houses and farming equipment. “All that is left is the land.”

Hirayama said he had rebuilt his house in 1989, raising the ground level following a flood in 1986.

His family plan to live on the second floor until he can make repairs, which he reckons could take three months.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the government would spend 710 million yen ($6.5 million) to facilitate disaster relief.  

-Reuters

Accidents

FRSC Confirms 6 Dead, 5 Injured In Ibadan Road Accident

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FRSC Confirms 6 Dead, 5 Injured In Ibadan Road Accident

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Oyo State Command, has confirmed the death of six persons in an accident involving multiple vehicles on Monday at Oke Eleshin, Amuloko area of the State.

The FRSC Public Education Officer in the State, Mayowa Odewo, told newsmen in Ibadan on Monday in a message that five persons were injured in the accident.

Odewo said eleven persons were involved in the accident, while the five vehicles involved were two tricycles, two trucks and a Sienna vehicle.

He said the five injured persons had been taken to Amuloko City Hospital by good Samaritans, while the corpses were taken to University College Hospital, Ibadan, before the arrival of FRSC personnel.

Odewo urged drivers to adhere strictly to road safety rules and regulations to reduce avoidable crashes.

An eyewitness revealed that among the dead were pupils and a mother to one of the pupils.

The witness said that a trailer appeared to have lost control and rammed into the vehicles.”

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Ember Months: 2 Children Die, 7 Injured In Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway Accident

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Ember Months: 2 Children Die, 7 Injured In Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway Accident

…As Osun accident claims 4 lives – FRSC

Two children were confirmed dead in a lone accident involving a Toyota Camry at Kere, Itori on the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.

Mrs Florence Okpe, the Spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, confirmed the incident in a statement in Abeokuta on Sunday.

Okpe noted that the accident occurred at about 11:00 p.m. on Saturday.

She explained that the accident was caused by speeding, saying that the car marked AGL 36 JA was overloaded with passengers.

“A total of seven men, one male child and a female child were involved in the crash.

“One male child and one female child were killed in the accident while others sustained different forms of injury in the crash,” she said.

The FRSC spokesperson added that the injured victims were taken to the General Hospital, Ifo, while the corpses were deposited at the morgue.

She advised motorists to always adhere to traffic rules and regulations. 

In another development, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osun Command, says four persons lost their lives in Sunday’s accident that occurred on the Osun-Ondo expressway.

Mr Taofeeq Sokumbi, Osun Sector Commander, disclosed this in an interview in Osogbo.

Sokumbi said the accident occurred opposite Joseph Ayo Babalola University due to excessive speeding on the part of the vehicles involved, leading to the death of four passengers.

He warned motorists against dangerous driving which could lead to loss of lives and property.

According to him, the accident was due to the carelessness of the driver, who knew the danger that lay ahead due to excessive speeding.

He said the injured persons had been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment with corpses of the dead victims deposited at a morgue.

Sokumbi, however, warned that the command would not hesitate to deal with any road offender violating the state’s safety laws.

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Accidents

Tanker Tyre Explosion Sparks Chaos In Surulere

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Tanker Tyre Explosion Sparks Chaos In Surulere

 Pandemonium engulfed Ekololu, a community in the Surulere area of Lagos, on Monday night when the back tyres of a tanker transporting fuel to a Conoil filling station burst into flames near the station.

The News Correspondent who resides in the area reports that the explosion of the tyres and the ensuing billows of smoke made residents living near the filling station flee for safety.

Observations by the newsmen revealed that staff from the filling station hurried out with fire extinguishers to combat the fire, which erupted around 9:00 p.m., just a few meters from the station’s entrance.

Emergency responders, including Federal and State Fire Services, as well as the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), swiftly arrived at the scene following distress calls from the community.

The ill-fated tanker that caused the pandemonium

Upon arrival, the emergency teams assessed the unregistered truck carrying the petrol and raised concerns about safety measures while questioning the driver and filling station management.

They provided guidance and oversaw the safe discharge of the fuel using a long hose to transfer the petroleum product from the stranded tanker into the filling station’s reservoirs.

The Station Manager of the Conoil filling station, Mr Kunle Oniya, informed the emergency responders that the station possessed 20 fire extinguishers, which were promptly utilised to contain the fire and prevent its spread.

The incident led to a traffic gridlock, with vehicles unable to move in the area for nearly an hour.

Some residents shared their experiences of the ordeal with the newsmen.

A resident, Malam Shehu, recounted abandoning his dinner upon witnessing the fiery explosion.

He expressed gratitude that the fire was contained before causing further damage.

Another resident, known as Iya Abigail, described hearing people shouting while she was playing games, prompting her to flee in confusion wearing her nightclothes.

She prayed for continued safety in the community.

An elderly resident, who preferred anonymity, urged filling stations in the area to prioritise safety and the welfare of residents.

She noted that filling stations typically had insurance against fire and other disasters and suggested extending such coverage to vulnerable buildings in their host communities.

Recalling the chaotic events, she said that she heard the sound of an emergency whistle to alert the neighbourhood before hastily evacuating her home.

“I was watching TV and when the incident occurred, I had to blow the emergency whistle to alert the neighbourhood but I quickly dressed up before running out of the house,” she said. 

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