DEATH toll has risen to five at a collapsed building on Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate Maryland, Lagos State.
The incident happened in the early hours of Thursday, July 25, and three persons were earlier confirmed dead from the tragedy.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, (LASEMA) at least five yet-be-identified persons were recovered dead from the debris while five others were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
After the rescue operation, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Femi Oke-Osanyitolu confirmed more casualties at the collapsed building.
“A total number of dead is now five, adult males and a total number of five persons rescued and receiving medical treatment,” Oke-Osanyitolu stated.
The official said search and rescue operations were swift leading to the rescue of some victims.
According to him, three adult males were recovered dead shortly after the incident, and two male adults were rescued alive. One male adult was trapped under the rubble and but was subsequently rescued alive by the LASEMA and the Lagos State Fire Service.
“All the six men were site workers. They are receiving pre-hospital care on location while SEHMU has been contacted for the remains of the three fatalities,” Oke-Osanyitolu stated.
The Nigerian Police Force (NPF), LASEMA, Lagos State Rescue and Fire Service, and other rescue teams were among the emergency organisations on the site of the incident.
The incident occurred around midnight when three terraces under construction unexpectedly fell.
An eyewitness reported that the incident happened at about 3:58 in the morning.
The ICIR reports that there have been several incidents of building collapse in Lagos State. In the last years, the state has recorded no less than 115 incidents of building collapse.
According to LASEMA, between January and July 2022, the state recorded no less than 30 cases of building collapse.
In some cases, there were no fatalities, while in others, scores of people perished in the rubble.
For instance, a 21-storey building located at Gerard Road, Ikoyi, caved in in November 2021 leading to the death of about 45 people.
Also, the collapse of the Lekki Gardens in Ikoyi in 2016 claimed about 35 lives.
A reporter with the ICIR
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