By: Pentho Goldmark Two construction workers have been pulled out alive after spending four days trapped under the rubble of a collapsed t...
By: Pentho Goldmark
Two construction workers have been pulled out alive after spending four days trapped under the rubble of a collapsed three-storey building in Ebute Metta, Lagos State.
The incident occurred on Friday night around 7:46 p.m. when the structure located at 333 Borno Way, Alagomeji suddenly gave way, burying workers and passersby beneath the debris.
On Saturday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that the body of a male victim had been recovered during its initial operations.
By Monday, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, told reporters that a total of six people had been rescued alive, while four bodies were recovered from the site.
He revealed that the two latest survivors were brought out around 11 a.m. on Monday and immediately rushed to a state hospital for emergency treatment, which is being provided free of charge.
“It is now on record that we rescued six people. It is pathetic, and we sympathise with the families of the victims whose bodies were recovered from the rubble. Since Friday, we have been working morning, afternoon, and night. As of 11 a.m. today, we rescued two people, and they are receiving adequate treatment,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
The LASEMA boss added that while the cause of the collapse remains unknown, investigations are ongoing. He noted that all buildings around the site that might have been weakened by the incident have been directed to undergo solid material testing to prevent further disaster.
“We can’t say the cause really, we have to be holistic and empirical about it because we don’t want a repeat incident. When the results are out, we will be able to tell you the cause. However, the search and rescue is still ongoing,” he explained.
He urged Lagos residents to remain calm, assuring them that the government is on top of the situation and committed to preventing another tragedy of this nature.
Building collapses have become a recurring nightmare in Lagos, with experts often pointing to poor structural integrity, use of substandard materials, and disregard for building regulations as the leading causes.
This latest incident adds to the growing list of such tragedies in Nigeria’s commercial capital, where urban development continues to outpace strict enforcement of safety standards.
No comments