5 Killed In Another Building Collapse In Lagos

Remains of the collapsed building

Tragedy occurred yesterday in Lagos when at least five persons were confirmed dead and some others injured following the collapse of a two-storey building located at No 29 Onasanya Street, off Ishaga Road in Surulere area of Lagos State.

Yesterday’s collapse, is coming barely 10 days after a three-storey building at Ebute Metta area, collapsed killing seven persons and some others picking several degrees of injury.

Relating the incident at the scene of the collapse, the spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency for South-West, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said the body of a 13-year-old girl was among those brought out from the rubble, noting that the house had been marked two times for stop work but the owners remained defiant.

Also confirming the incident to newsmen, General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the recovered bodies have been deposited at the mortuary while those injured have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

“Rescue operations is still on for now, we need to be sure that no one is still under the rubbles. But after today, we would conduct investigation to know the cause of the collapse”, he said.

One of the casualties being evacuated

At the scene of the collapse, emergency management officials including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency ,LASEMA Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Lagos Fire Service, National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA and the Nigeria Police were seen making frantic efforts to rescue other victims that are said to still be trapped under the rubbles.

Speaking to Nigerian Pilot, an eye witness, Mr. Isiaka, said the building which was under construction collapsed at about 9:50am when the rain was coming down.

He noted that the victims were mostly workers involved in the construction of the building while some were petty traders who usually sell foods and drinks to the workers.

Another eyewitness noted that only a part of the building collapsed initially, but as people rush into the building to rescue those within, the rest of the building caved in on some of them as well.

Another eye witness, Miss Johnson, told newsmen that a lady hawking bread with a child strapped to her back were among the victims.