5 Persons dead, 23 rescued alive as 3-storey building collapses in Lagos

*The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) already at the scene of the building collapse with first responders helping to search for survivors

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

A three-storey building has collapsed in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos State.

ConsumerConnect reports the affected building, located on Ibadan Street in the area, reportedly caved in minutes before 10 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2022.

Occupants of the building were said be trapped at the time the incident occurred Sunday night.

Emergency agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, among others rushed to the scene and commenced a search and rescue operation for the victims.

In a video shared on social media, a large crowd was seen in front of the building with first responders helping to search for survivors.

In an update, LASEMA which disclosed of the development at the scene, said: “An alert of a collapsed of a three-storey building by 32 Ibadan Street, Ebute Metta was received at 9:48.p.m, Sunday with Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service already at the scene.”

Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Lagos State on New Media, was also quoted to have said that “search and rescue ongoing with updates to follow, please.”

5 Persons confirmed dead in building collapse ─NEMA

Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed the death of five persons in the three-storey building that caved in on Ibadan Street late Sunday.

The regulatory agency also noted about 23 persons, including children, were said to have been rescued alive from the rubble.

The occupants were said to be in their various apartments when the building suddenly collapsed and trapped some of them.

Immediately, emergency agencies were alerted as some residents resorted to self help by searching the rubble to rescue the trapped victims.

Ibrahim Farinloye, Acting Coordinator, NEMA, confirmed the death of four occupants, adding that the collapsed structure had been marked for demolition.

Farinloye stated: “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.”

He also didclosed “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.”

Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, in a statement issued Sunday night, said some of the injured victims were rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), in Ikeja, the state capital, for urgent treatment.

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

“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.”

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