Five Persons Die, 23 Rescued After Three-Story Building In Lagos Collapses

The National Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that five people were killed when a three-story building caved in on Ibadan Street in the state’s Ebute Metta area late Sunday.

A total of 23 people, including children, were said to have been rescued alive.

The occupants were said to be in their various apartments when the building collapsed unexpectedly, trapping some of them.

Emergency services were immediately notified, as some residents resorted to self-help by searching the rubble for trapped victims.

The NEMA, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, and Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, among others, rushed to the scene and began a search and rescue operation for the victims.

He said, “Another three-storey building, on Lagos Street, about 200 metres away from the current scene has shown signs of distress with part throwing pebbles and falling off.

“The building had also been marked as distressed but the occupants were deviant.

However, the building has been re-sealed and occupants evacuated by officers of Lagos State Buildings Control Agency.

“Four deaths including two male and two female. 23 people have been rescued alive including seven children and 16 adults. Another young man, Tahin, has just been recovered, making five deaths.”

The Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement late Sunday, had said some of the injured victims were rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for urgent treatment.

He said, “On arrival at the incident scene, an old three-storey building comprising rooms and parlour was discovered to have collapsed.

Further information gathered revealed that the incident occurred around 10.56pm with an undetermined number of people trapped.

“A search and rescue operation is ongoing. 20 rescued alive and out of the victims rescued, two sustained severe injuries and have been taken to LASUTH for further treatment,” he said.