Scene of the collapse building
Two people have been confirmed dead and 16 others rescued with varying degrees of injuries after a residential 5-storey building collapsed in the Alakija area of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred on Thursday at Old Ojo Road, near Alakija Bus Stop, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Satellite Town.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said it received a distress call at 11:37 a.m. and emergency responders from the Ijegun-Egba Fire Station arrived at the scene by 11:49 a.m.
The agency’s Director, Margaret Adeseye, said the collapsed structure was a storey building occupied by several residents when the incident happened.
She said, “The incident involves the collapse of a storey building, an existing residential structure occupied by multiple residents at the time of the incident.”
Although some eyewitnesses claimed more victims could still be trapped, Adeseye said search efforts were ongoing, adding, “Regrettably, two persons have been recovered dead. Emergency responders remain on the scene, working tirelessly to ensure that all affected persons are accounted for and to safeguard the area.”
She added, “Further updates will be communicated as rescue operations progress.”
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said the collapse has disrupted traffic along the route, noting that “An excavator has been deployed to assist in the rescue of persons trapped within the collapsed structure.”
Rescue operations are being carried out by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service alongside the Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Navy, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the latest tragedy is coming barely 24 hours after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, leaving one person dead and three others injured.
