Lagos – Two construction workers were reportedly rescued on Saturday while three others were trapped in Yaba area of Lagos following the collapse of a three-storey building.
The building said to be under construction as at the time of the collapse was located at 16 Akanbi Crescent, off Adesina Street, Harvey, Sabo Yaba, a short distance from the main entrance of University of Lagos.
Eyewitness accounts said the construction workers were at their various duty posts when the building collapsed on them.
However, two of them were rescued from the rubble immediately the incident occurred in the afternoon.
An eyewitness, Alhaja Adeoye Adesewa said the building had suffered partial collapse in 2021 but this did not stop the ongoing construction.
“We are not surprised at today’s building collapse because part of it collapsed last year and we thought that the government would stop further construction on it but we were wrong,” she said.
The Director- General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed the incident but did not give further details on it.
At press time, it was learnt that rescue operations were ongoing at the site of the building which led to the rescue of two of the victims while the remaining were yet to be rescued.
The rescue operations were jointly performed by LASEMA, National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, fire fighters, the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Red Cross and other sister agencies.
The NEMA Lagos Territorial Office Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed that five persons were trapped underneath the rubbles while two of them were rescued.
“A three- storey building under construction at 16 Akanbi crescent off Adesina Adesina Street, Harvey, Sabo Yaba collapsed trapping about 5 workers.
“Two of them have been rescued alive. Heavy duty equipment are being mobilised to the scene though frustrating heavy traffic gridlock is not helping in response,” said the Coordinator.
The Saturday incident occurred barely three months after a 21-storey Ikoyi building collapsed in Ikoyi area of Lagos killing many people.(Vanguard/vitalnews)
