No fewer than 13 persons sustained varying injuries on Sunday after a commercial bus plunged into a canal following a collusion with a private car in Lagos.

The incident occurred at Cement Bus Stop, along the Abeokuta Expressway.

It was gathered that the Varagon bus without registration number was allegedly driving recklessly when it suddenly hit a saloon car with registration number BDG963BT, swerved and landed inside a nearby canal.

The bus, which landed in the canal on its side, had all passengers trapped inside with no escape route.

It was gathered that it took the intervention of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to evacuate the trapped passengers from the bus, some of whom were alleged to be unconscious.

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Confirming the incident, LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary (PS), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the occupants have been taken to the hospital.

He said the driver of the saloon car sustained minor injury and was treated at the scene by paramedics, adding the agency’s heavy duty equipment had been deployed to recover the bus from the canal.

Oke-Osanyintolu also said officials of LASEMA rescued an elderly woman who was trapped in her flooded house at Ayobo, Ipaja after Saturday’s heavy rains.

He said the woman who was down with stroke, was the sole occupant of the building, adding that the rescue party administered pre-hospital care after she was located before moving her to the hospital.

He urged residents to avoid non-essential travels to areas that are most affected by flooding.

“Parents and guardians are to keep their children and wards warm and dry to avoid secondary illnesses.

“This is an appeal to community leaders to use the public holidays to carry out some remedial clearing of blocked drainage. This will allow for free flow of storm water and reduce the impact,” he said.