Tragedy struck yesterday in Lagos as a three-Storey building located at No 87 Odunfa street , off Adeniji Adele Street on Lagos Island in Lagos State, collapsed, trapping many occupants of the building.
Five persons, Daily Sun learnt have been rescued while many are believed to be still trapped in the rubble of the building, which collapsed at about 9a.m. yesterday, as confirmed by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
It was gathered that the building, which was over 30 years old and described as ‘civilian barrack,’ caved in at about 9 a.m after making obvious cracks.
NEMA spokesman Ibrahim Farinloye told Daily Sun that rescue operations to get out the trapped occupants have been initiated and ongoing and that already, five persons, including a 15-year-old boy and an elderly woman believed to be in her early 80s were rescued alive. The octogenarian was rescued at about 1:45 pm with her body covered in dust.
Farinloye said the agency was not expecting further rescue of occupants as most of the occupants of the three-storey building “appeared to have miraculously left before the building collapsed.
“Since the incident occurred at about 9a.m, there is the possibility that the occupants may have gone to work and the children gone to school before the incident occurred. We believe those rescued were the people in the building as nobody has reported any missing person.”
NEMA also reported they waded through the rubble to get to the base of the building in order to assist some occupants retrieve their property.
The cause of the collapse was not immediately known, but it was suspected that the building may have been distressed before caving in. According to some residents of the street, the building was old and dilapidated and had shown signs of distress.
General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Michael Akindele, said the agency received a distress call at about 9a.m. and immediately mobilised to site.
Meanwhile, Daily Sun learnt that the rescued persons have been rushed to Sura Health Centre on the Island for treatment.
“When we received the distress call, emergency response was activated with all stakeholders on ground. We used both heavy and light duty equipment to rescue those trapped.
“Five people were evacuated and taken to the general hospital. Emergency response is still ongoing. We will carry out our investigation to ascertain the cause of the collapse. All relevant stakeholders are on ground and the area has been cordoned off,” he stated. (Daily Sun)