- Safiu Kehinde
A three-storey building collapse in Apapa area of Lagos State has claimed the life of one adult male with eight others injured.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday morning at Baale Alayabiagba Street, Alayabiagba community in Ajegunle- Apapa.
As confirmed in a statement issued by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency’s (LASEMA) Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the eight injured victims were rescued from the debris of the builidng while also recovering the body of the deceased victim.
Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency’s response team arrived at the scene around 11:09 a.m. to find the building completely collapsed, trapping several workers beneath the rubble.
He however noted that the cause of the collapse is still unknown.
“Following distress alerts at 11:09 am, LASEMA activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from Agbowa and Alausa.
“Upon arrival of the agency’s response teams at 11:09 am, it was discovered that a three-storey building with a penthouse collapsed on Thursday at No. 28, Baale Alayabiagba Street, Alayabiagba community, Ajegunle, Apapa area of Lagos.
“The cause of the collapsed building is yet to be ascertained,
“Eight adult males were rescued alive and given first aid by the Lagos State Ambulance Service before being taken to Ajeromi General Hospital,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
According to residents, the building had been undergoing manual demolition when it gave way, burying workers on site.
Responders at the scene included officials of LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the National Emergency Management Agency, and the Nigeria Police.
Search and rescue operations were still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.