A yet-to-be-identified male adult has found himself trapped in an underground tunnel in the Onipanu area of Lagos State, in the course of his duties de-silting drainages in the community. According to reports, the incident occurred on Monday, highlighting the risks faced by workers in vital public infrastructure maintenance roles.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, issued a statement confirming the situation. He revealed that the drainage worker was employed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and had become trapped while attempting to dislodge and evacuate debris from the underground drainage system.
In response to the distress call, LASEMA swiftly activated the State's Emergency Response Plans from its Onipanu Base. Emergency responders arrived at the scene promptly, where it was discovered that the worker had accessed the underground tunnel in an effort to clear a blocked portion of the drainage but became trapped in the process.
Further investigation at the scene revealed that the trapped individual was a Drain Ducks worker employed by LAMATA. Despite efforts to free him, he remained stuck in the tunnel, prompting a search and rescue operation by the LASEMA Response Team and other emergency responders, commencing at approximately 4:25 pm.
The rescue operation, described as ongoing, involves the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies working tirelessly to extricate the trapped worker safely. To enhance the effectiveness of the operation, sophisticated equipment has been deployed to penetrate the manhole and facilitate access to the trapped individual.
Moreover, strategic measures have been implemented to mitigate risks, including efforts to block and divert inflow of water from the Ilupeju axis, aimed at reducing the volume of underground fluids and ensuring the safety of the rescue operation.
The incident underscores the inherent dangers faced by workers involved in essential infrastructure maintenance tasks and highlights the critical role of emergency response agencies in mitigating such risks and ensuring the safety of citizens.
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