One person has been confirmed dead and eight others rescued after a three-storey building collapsed on Thursday in the Apapa area of Lagos State.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement released by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.
According to Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA’s response team arrived at the scene around 11:09 a.m. after receiving distress calls and found the building completely reduced to rubble, with several workers trapped underneath.
“Following distress alerts at 11:09 a.m., LASEMA activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from Agbowa and Alausa. Upon arrival of the agency’s response teams, it was discovered that a three-storey building with a penthouse collapsed on Thursday at No. 28, Baale Alayabiagba Street, Alayabiagba community, Ajegunle, Apapa area of Lagos,” he said.
He added that the cause of the collapse was yet to be determined.
“Eight adult males were rescued alive and given first aid by the Lagos State Ambulance Service before being taken to Ajeromi General Hospital,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated, adding that “one adult male was, however, recovered dead from the debris.”
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the building was undergoing manual demolition when it suddenly gave way, trapping some workers on site.
Officials from LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Nigeria Police were all on ground for the rescue operation.
As of the time of filing this report, search and rescue operations were still ongoing.
(NAN)
