TWO passengers of an ill-fated bus including a baby have reportedly died while many passengers were rescued on Monday, after a bus plunged into a canal within Iyana-Oworo in Lagos State.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 2pm when the passengers who were supposedly family members were heading for Oworo to celebrate the Yuletide.
However, the fully loaded bus painted in colour white, reportedly lost control and plunged into the canal.
The passengers were said to be rescued saved for a baby who was recovered dead
The Bus, according to eyewitnesses, lost control near an open field in the area in an unclear circumstance.
However, the passengers were rescued by some first responders at the scene of the incident.
A video posted to social media showed some sympathisers shouting for help as they rallied round the victims.
An eye witness, Ms Sadia Adefarati said sympathisers and residents have done the needful before the arrival of emergency agencies. She said, “LASTMA personnel in the area tried their best but there was no equipment. Thank God for some residents within the community who left what they were doing to rescue the passengers. The incident was within the canal at Iyana-Oworo and not on the expressway.
“All the passengers have been rescued except a baby who was recovered dead. As I speak, only the Vanagon bus remains in the canal,” she said.
Vanguard gathered that the victims were taken to a nearby hospital for medical attention but one of them, a female was said to have died in the hospital as a result of shock.
Efforts to reach the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA, was unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls and messages but the incident was confirmed by the Acting Coordinator, National Emergency Agency, NEMA, Lagos State Territorial District, Ibrahim Farinloye.
At press time, sympathisers were at the scene discussing the incident while the bus was yet to be removed from the scene.
-Vanguard
