Hundreds feared dead as three storey building collapses in Lagos

A three storey building collapsed early this morning at Ebute-Metta, Lagos and it is reported that some people are still trapped in the rubble. Here is a report on the incident culled from Nigerian Telegraph…

Scores of trapped residents of the three-storey building that collapsed early this morning at the Ebute-Metta area of Lagos have continued crying out for help hours after the house caved in.

Ten corpses have been pulled out of the rubble so far.

It is estimated that almost a hundred people reside in the building. However, it is not yet clear how many were inside as at the time of the collapse.

As at the time of this report, the only rescue operation going on is by a vigilante group and residents of the area who have tried to attack the debris with bare hands and any equipment they can find.

Red cross at work

Police officers from the nearby Denton Police Station have also assisted in the rescue work while officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) have just arrived the scene..

“This is sad,” said Musbau Agbodimu, the head of the vigilante group in the area. “Just two days into the Ramadan fast and we are hearing such terrible news. The vigilante group went into action immediately we learnt about the collapsed building; with the assistance of residents and the area boys. The police are here now.

The LASAMBUS, LASEMA and other rescue workers from the government are here now. We need excavators. As I am standing, they have removed ten corpses. We need help here urgently as the crowd is trooping in to catch a glimpse of the collapsed building. More than 100 occupants, including children and women, live in the ill fated building and they are trapped crying for help. It is a terrible thing.”

A resident of the area, who identified himself as Seyi, said the building collapsed about 2.10am.

“We heard the loud noise but nobody could do anything at that time due to the darkness,” he said. “Some of the women were preparing the Ramadan food when the building caved in. But it was about 6.00am that people noticed and came out to help in the rescue operation.”

Let’s all pray for those affected by this unfortunate development. Really sad!

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