Southwest Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, says five people were rescued alive while four dead bodies were recovered from the debris of the 21-storey building that collapsed this afternoon on Gerald road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Farinloye told the Vanguard that the rescue operation is still in progress as they are getting closer to where some of the construction workers are being trapped.
However, he couldn’t ascertain the total number of casualties as well as the number of persons trapped in the building.
Vanguard also gathered more people have been rescued and currently undergoing treatment at the time of writing this report.
In what seemed to be a black Monday, November 1, several people have been trapped under the rubble of a 21-storey building that collapsed at Musikiu Junction by Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, according to report earlier published by the Vanguard.
The building was said to be under construction when it suddenly collapsed on construction workers.
The incident it was gathered occurred at about 1.30 pm.
Men of the Federal, state Fire Services and Rescue Team and men of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, are currently at the scene of the incident to salvage the lives of those trapped.
According to Director General, LASEMA Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency has activated its emergency response plan to the above incident.
“All first responders are en route to secure the scene while the heavy-duty equipment and life detection equipment have been dispatched.”
It was also gathered many construction workers and developers of the building, identified as Mr Wale Bobb are among the victims trapped under the rubbles.
Two people have been rescued from the rubbles at the scene. Both, males, were rescued at about 4.15 pm.
The Acting Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Lagos State, Ibrahim Farinloye, who confirmed it said rescue operation is ongoing.
Eyewitness
According to an eyewitness, a few minutes before the collapse, one side of the building’s pillars broke and made a loud noise as the whole building came down.
Mr. Thompson David, an eyewitness said: “I saw the building going down, it was so pathetic that I cannot help but watch how the building went down from one side of the pillar that probably breaks or something happens to the pillar
Also the entire area has been cordoned off to allow for seamless rescue operation and prevent possible damages, while rescue teams are battling to rescue other trapped victims from the rubbles.
Meanwhile, the cause of the collapse cannot be ascertained as of press time.
