One dead, three rescued in Lagos building collapse

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed one death and the rescue of three adult males following the collapse of a two-storey building under construction in Fadeyi, Lagos. The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

Oke-Osanyintolu ​‌‍‍‍‍⁠⁠‍‌​⁠​‍‍‍‌‌​said the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday at Akinola Street, by Fadeyi Bus Stop, off Ikorodu Road. He said search and rescue operations were ongoing to determine whether more persons were trapped beneath the rubble. He said the agency received a distress call at 12:10 a.m., prompting the immediate activation of its Cobra Response Team from Onipanu Base.

According to him, the team arrived at the scene at 12:12 a.m. and discovered that the building under construction had collapsed, with construction workers suspected to be trapped beneath the debris. Oke-Osanyintolu said search and rescue operations commenced immediately, with safety measures put in place to protect victims and emergency responders.

He added that groaning sounds were heard beneath the rubble during the operation, indicating possible survivors. He said the agency deployed an excavator to facilitate the search and rescue operation. Oke-Osanyintolu said the rescued victims received immediate pre-hospital care from LASEMA paramedics and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) before being transferred to hospital.

He listed the responders at the scene as the LASEMA Response Team, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASAMBUS and officers of the Nigeria Police Force from Alagbon Division. He said the cause of the collapse had yet to be determined and would be investigated by relevant regulatory agencies. He commiserated with the family of the deceased and wished the rescued victims a speedy recovery.

He also reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling substandard construction and strengthening monitoring and enforcement in collaboration with the Lagos State Building Control Agency to prevent similar incidents. (NAN)