A devastating storm accompanied by heavy rainfall resulted in the tragic deaths of four people in Jattu Market near Auchi, Edo State.

The incident occurred on Monday morning when strong winds uprooted four large trees, which then fell on people taking shelter underneath.

Many traders and market-goers had sought refuge under the century-old trees during the storm around 9 a.m. Unfortunately, the powerful winds and rain caused the trees to collapse, leading to the fatal incident and leaving many others injured.

Edo State Deputy Governor, Marvellous Omabayo, visited the scene to commiserate with the victims’ families and assess the damage.

During his visit, Deputy Governor Omabayo expressed deep condolences on behalf of the state government and emphasized the administration’s commitment to providing support and preventing future tragedies.

“The state government will set up a State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) office in Auchi to mitigate future occurrences,” Omabayo announced.

He further directed the local government to prepare a detailed report on the incident to facilitate the provision of palliative measures for those affected.

“We are here to assess the damage caused by the downpour and the tragedy in the market. I have directed the local government to make a report on the incident for us to provide palliative to cushion the effect of the incident,” Omabayo said.

The deputy governor added, “The trees are a century old, so we would ensure that trees above 50 years are cut down while new ones are planted.”

Omabayo assured the community that within the next 24 hours, the government would release a comprehensive report on their approach to managing the situation and enhancing safety measures to protect the community.