An unspecified number of residents of Trade Moore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, have been trapped by a flood following a heavy rainfall on Friday.
Viral videos on social media show several houses and vehicles submerged under water. As of the time of filing this report, efforts were being made to rescue those trapped in their houses.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said in a situation report on the search and rescue efforts that the driver of a Peugeot 406 with the registration number YLA 681 FS drowned in the flood and still missing.
According to the report, “Four persons were rescued and in stable condition.
“Stakeholders responding to the flood are NEMA, Fire Service, FCT FEMA, Red Cross and federal ministry of environment-flood department, respectively.”
A NEMA official, who spoke with journalists on Friday, appealed to all those living in flood-prone areas of the estate to evacuate to a safer place.
He said, “If you know you live in a house built in a flood-prone area, kindly move to a safer place even if for nothing but to save a life. Properties can go.
“You can see how the water has submerged all these vehicles. Don’t underestimate the power of water, it can wash people away. We are pleading, we do not want the loss of lives this year.”
In September 2021, three persons died in the estate after a downpour that caused a heavy flood.
Vehicles were submerged, while several properties were destroyed during the flooding incident.
Residents of the estate had blamed the flooding on the absence of an adequate drainage system.
