3-storey building collapses in Lagos

By Evelyn Usman & Monsur Olowopejo

Tragedy struck, Tuesday, at Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State, after a three-storey building under construction caved in and trapped a yet-to-be ascertained number of persons.

At the time of this report, only one body, believed to be one of the construction workers, had been recovered.

The incident, as gathered, occurred at 3.50pm at 24 Bashiru Street.

The uncompleted building as gathered was owned by an unnamed church.

A resident, who identified himself as Jamiu, told Vanguard that they (residents) were jolted by a deafening sound before the building caved in.

Although nobody could tell how many construction workers were on site at the time of the incident, there were indications that some of the workers were still trapped under the debris as telephone calls reportedly made to one of the them, identified as Musilu, revealed that he was pleading passionately for urgent help.

At 5.10pm, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA; Lagos State Emergency management Authority, LASEMA; Federal Road Safety Corps and policemen were sighted at the scene battling to save those trapped under the debris.

The state spokesperson for NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed that only one dead body had been recovered.

General Manager, LASEMA, Mr. Femi Osayintolu, disclosed that four persons were rescued alive.

He added that efforts were on to ascertain the exact location of the trapped victims with a detector, before excavation of the particular area would be done.

None could, however, state the cause of the collapse.