3 killed, 15 rescued as 5-storey building collapses in Lagos

A five-storey shopping complex under construction at 9, Muri Okunola street, Eti-Osa Local Government, collapsed yesterday, killing three persons and injuring 15 others.

At 8:30 pm, when Vanguard visited the scene, it was gathered that scores of persons were still trapped under the debris.

At the scene, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Red Cross and men of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, attached to the Maroko station, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Lagos Command, were sighted at the scene still battling to rescue the trapped persons.

Of the 15 rescued, five were said to be in critical condition and have been admitted at the Accident and Emergency Centre, Toll Gate, Ikeja while others were admitted at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, hospital, few metres from the scene.

It was learnt that the construction workers were casting the decking and the pillars when the building caved-in on them at about 4:00 pm.

According to an eyewitness, Mr. Adetayo Olaseni, he said that the building collapsed at about 4:00 pm while construction works were still ongoing which led to pandemonium, as every one scampered for safety.”

Another eyewitness, Miss. Blessing Osundare said: “I heard a loud bang and all I saw was that the entire building had collapsed on the workers. While some escaped unhurt, others are still trapped under the debris. I can’t say the number of people here but, I know that they were more than 60 persons working at the site,” she added.

*File Photo: two storey that collapsed at the end of Church Street Jakande Estate Extension, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos State, Wednesday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Confirming the tragedy, the General Manager of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said “a twin 4-storey building located at Muri Okunola street, Victoria Island collapsed yesterday. 15 persons have been rescued so far while three bodies have been recovered from the debris.

“Rescue operations are still on-going and we are assuring residents that they shouldn’t panic. We are on-top of the issue,” he assured.