Transportation
One Dead, 2 Missing As Bridge Collapses During Heavy Rainfall In Ilorin (PHOTOS)
One person has been confirmed dead after a bridge collapsed at Oko-Erin, Ilorin, Kwara State on Saturday night, June 13 after heavy rainfall.
This is according to an eyewitness account that said a car carrying three passengers fell into the canal after the bridge collapsed.
The bridge collapsed around 10 pm on Saturday night because of heavy downfall. The driver was on the bridge when the bridge collapsed due to the heavy rainfall and high torrents of the water. The dead man was because he could not get help as people didn’t have means of rescuing him and others stuck in the canal, we had to standby and expect the emergency team to come.” the eyewitness said.
Confirming the incident, the Kwara state government via its Twitter handle, said efforts are being made to find two missing persons.
#SituationReport: The government has erected temporary barrier at the place. Stronger cordon (heavy slabs) being put in place in the next one hour. The road is to be blocked to prevent all access and any calamity. https://t.co/Iu1ynrgpmR
— Kwara State Government (@kwaragovt) June 14, 2020
Reacting to the incident, the state government sympathises with the victim of the crash and thereby warn against dumping of refuse into the drainage.
The Kwara State Government has commiserated with the families of those who were feared dead or missing following the collapse of the embankment of Oko-Erin bridge in Ilorin, the state capital.
The Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, mourned the victims today while inspecting the affected bridge in company of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Adisa Logun.
Mr Alabi described the accident as disheartening as any loss of life is tragic and traumatic.
He urged the people to desist from dumping refuse in drainages or building on waterways to prevent flooding or erosion of bridges.
He sympathised with the affected families and urged the rescue team to double efforts to locate the missing persons.
Speaking earlier, deputy director, Kwara State Fire Service, Mr Falade John, said the accident happened on Saturday evening when the embankment gave way and resulted in a Toyota Avensis car with five passengers on board falling off the bridge.
John said two people survived from the accident with bruises, while the service recovered a body on Coca Cola road. As at the time of this press release, two persons were still missing.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Kwara State Emergency Management Agency, Mrs Motunrayo Adaran, assured Mr Alabi that the agency would spare no effort to find the missing persons.
The road has now been cordoned off for safety reasons, with residents urged to stay away from the scene.
These are photos from the bridge
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