Lagos Ocean surge: 1 killed, 15 missing
- Details
- Category: Latest
- Published on Saturday, 18 August 2012 19:50
- Written by Admin
- The ocean surge has already claimed one life in Kuramo Beach, with 15 persons yet to be accounted for
An ocean surge today sacked communities around Kuramo Beach in Lagos Nigeria, leaving one person dead and 15
others missing. Mr Femi Oke-Osayintolu, General Manager of The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said the incident occurred at about 2 a.m. when residents were asleep, adding that those affected were mainly people occupying illegal shanties at the beach front.
“Yes, there was an ocean surge at Kuramo Beach very early this morning and we have some casualties.
“We have just recovered one body and we are still on a frantic search for about 15 people still missing.
“We have cordoned off the entire area and have asked residents to vacate immediately. It is a serious thing, but we are on top of the situation’’, he said.
The general manager said ocean surge was a problem in communities around beach fronts and had wreaked havoc in the past.
He urged residents living or doing business around other beach fronts in the state to leave immediately.
Mr Akin Bayode, a resident of Iru community where the surge occurred, said the problem had been compounded by abandoned vessels.
He also blamed the problem on ship wrecks in Alpha Beach and other beaches in the state.
Bayode appealed to the Federal Government to assist the State Government to remove the wrecks in order to address the problem.
Meanwhile the Lagos State government has ordered the immediate evacuation of people living on the shoreline, following seven days of high waves accompanied by a strong ocean surge.
The State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Segun Oniru who announced government’s order said the process has started with the immediate evacuation of the Kuramo Beach to make way for movement of sand into the area.
This action, the Commissioner explained, had to be taken immediately to avert the disaster of the Atlantic joining the Kuramo Waters and subsequently the Lagoon.
The Commissioner who explained that the State is getting the extreme of this weather condition due to the location of Lagos State, noted that other Coastal waterfront areas badly affected from which people would be expected to move include Badagry and Ojo Waterfront areas, Bar Beach, Kuramo Beach, Goshen Estate, Maiyegun and Alpha Beach.
He added that the State emergency services have already been mobilized to continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly. He urged everyone to remain calm.
