Man trapped in underground tunnel in Lagos

Etim Ekpimah

A man has been trapped in an underground tunnel trying to clear the channel from the debris in the Onipanu area of Lagos State.

The incident happened on Monday, 6 May 2024 around 4 pm.

Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), in his preliminary report, said following an SOS message on the distress situation of a Drainage Worker, LASEMA activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from its Onipanu Base.

Oke-Osanyintolu said, “Upon the arrival of the emergency responders at the incident scene, investigations revealed that an adult male de-silting drainages along that axis in an attempt to clear a blocked portion, accessed the underground tunnel and got trapped.

“Further investigation at the incident scene revealed that the man was a Drain Ducks worker employed by LAMATA, while trying to dislodge and evacuate debris from the underground drainage, unfortunately, got trapped in between the tunnel,” he said.

Oke-Osanyintolu stated that in conducting the Search and Rescue Operation, the LASEMA Response Team and all Emergency Responders are working together assiduously to rescue the trapped victim from inside the underground drainage which commenced at 1625hrs.

“To hasten positive results, sophisticated equipment has been deployed in the penetrative of the manhole to save the worker’s life, while strategic efforts have also been employed to block off and divert the inflow of water from the Ilupeju axis to reduce the volume of underground fluids,” he said.

He added that the search and rescue operation is still ongoing.

In Attendance: LASEMA Response Team at Onipanu alongside Lagos Fire and Rescue Service, LAMATA, KAI and LASTMA.

Details later.