Olugbenga Ige
A three-storey shopping complex collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos State on Thursday, leaving one person dead, 10 others rescued, and an unspecified number feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The building, located on Old Ojo Road near Alakija Bus Stop, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Satellite Town, collapsed at about 11:40 a.m., prompting an emergency response from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and other rescue agencies.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said a coordinated rescue operation was underway to locate and extricate victims trapped in the debris.
“LASEMA has activated its emergency response following the collapse of a three-storey shopping complex at Alakija, Ori-Ade LCDA,” he said.
According to him, responders were conducting a systematic search of the site as concerns grew that more victims could still be trapped.
“A multi-agency rescue operation is ongoing, with responders working systematically to search for and extricate anyone trapped beneath the rubble,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.
He disclosed that two persons had been rescued alive, while the body of one victim had been recovered.
“Two victims have been rescued alive through the joint efforts of LASEMA, LASBCA and CRCC Construction Company,” he said.
“One deceased adult male has been located. Recovery efforts are ongoing.”
The LASEMA boss added that reports from the scene indicated that other persons, including shop owners who had resumed business activities, might still be trapped in the collapsed structure.
“There are reports that additional persons, including shop owners who had resumed business, may still be trapped. Search and rescue operations remain active,” he said.
He further revealed that heavy-duty equipment had been deployed to aid rescue efforts.
“Heavy-duty equipment, including an excavator, is being deployed to support rescue efforts,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.
He appealed to residents to stay away from the scene to enable emergency workers to carry out their duties unhindered.
“Members of the public are advised to remain calm, avoid the incident scene, and allow emergency responders unrestricted access to carry out life-saving operations,” he said.
LASEMA said it would continue to provide verified updates as the rescue operation progresses.
Also, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said it received a distress call at 11:37 a.m. and immediately mobilised personnel from the Ijegun-Egba Fire Station, who arrived at the scene at 11:49 a.m.
In a statement on Thursday, the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said the collapsed structure was a residential building occupied by several residents at the time of the incident.
“The incident involves the collapse of a storey building, an existing residential structure occupied by multiple residents at the time of the incident,” she said.
Adeseye disclosed that 10 persons had so far been rescued alive and handed over to medical personnel for treatment.
“As of the time of this report, 10 persons have been rescued alive with varying degrees of injuries and have been handed over to medical personnel for necessary treatment,” she stated.
She added that search and rescue operations were continuing as emergency workers combed through the debris for possible survivors.
“Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as emergency responders continue efforts to locate, extricate, and evacuate any persons who may still be trapped beneath the debris,” Adeseye said.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to determine the cause of the building collapse.
Copyright PUNCH
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
