JUST-IN: Many feared dead, others trapped as building collapses in Lagos

On Thursday, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) reported that three construction workers died in a building collapse at Arowojobe Estate in the Maryland area of Lagos.

Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency’s Permanent Secretary, stated that the incident occurred at No. 13, Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate. The three deceased were site workers.

“The agency received a distress call regarding a collapsed building at the above address at about 3:49 a.m. This prompted the immediate activation of the agency’s response team to the scene of the incident at 3:58 a.m.

“It was discovered that a set of three terraces under construction had collapsed. Search and rescue operations began immediately and three adult males were recovered dead, two adult males were rescued alive, and one adult male trapped under the rubble was rescued,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

The rescued workers were aided by LASEMA and the Lagos State Fire Service. Oke-Osanyintolu added, “All six men were site workers. They are receiving pre-hospital care on location while the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit has been contacted for the remains of the three fatalities. A combined team of agency personnel, fire service, and Nigeria Police are working at the scene.

LASEMA’s excavator has been deployed to accelerate the search and rescue operations.

(NAN)