Hours of torrential rain submerge roads, trap workers as rescue teams search for missing victims
By Jimoh Ahmed
A devastating flood swept through parts of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Monday, with three people reportedly carried away by raging floodwaters as torrential rainfall overwhelmed roads and residential areas across the city.
The victims were said to include an elderly woman, a woman and a commercial motorcycle rider, according to reports from the scene.
As of the time of filing the reports, their whereabouts remained unknown, with emergency responders and residents involved in efforts to locate them.
The downpour, which lasted several hours, sent large volumes of water through streets and neighbourhoods, leaving motorists and pedestrians stranded and forcing some residents to seek safety as flood levels rose rapidly.
Among the areas affected were Aayemi Garage, Elemi, Ureje, Odo-Ado, Faglo, Poly Road and New Iyin Road.
The situation was particularly severe around major roads, where fast-moving water made movement hazardous. Some civil servants were reportedly trapped in their offices as the flood spread across parts of the city.
In another dramatic incident, a middle-aged man described as intoxicated was rescued by hundreds of people after attempting to cross rapidly flowing floodwater.
The latest incident has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of Ado-Ekiti to flooding, particularly during periods of intense rainfall, and the ability of drainage and flood-management infrastructure to cope with sudden volumes of water.
The development also comes against the backdrop of a fresh Federal Government flood warning covering Ekiti and other states between September 27 and October 10, with Ekiti listed among states with communities in the critical flood-risk category.
The Federal Government warning identified heavy rainfall, rising river levels, saturated soil and increased surface runoff among the factors capable of worsening flooding during the period.
For residents of Ado-Ekiti, Monday’s flooding has turned that warning into a fresh and immediate reality.
Authorities and residents have consequently been urged to exercise extreme caution whenever heavy rainfall begins, particularly around waterways, flooded roads and other low-lying areas.
The reported disappearance of the three people also underscores the danger of attempting to cross fast-moving floodwater, even where roads may appear passable.
As emergency responders and community members continue efforts to locate those swept away, the incident has once again placed Ado-Ekiti’s flood-management preparedness under scrutiny.
For now, the priority remains the search for the missing persons and the safety of residents as the rainy season continues.