Collapse building kills 8, injures 33 in Lagos

Collapsed Building Kills 8, Injures 33 in Lagos

At least eight people have so far been confirmed dead, while 33 others received various degrees of injury in a collapsed four-storey building located on 4 Mogaji Street, Idumota/Ebute-Ero area of Lagos Island. The building caved in around 11.30pm on Tuesday.

    It was gathered that the building, which is about 10 years old, trapped many of the residents including the secretary of the Community Development Association (CDA), Mr. Tajudeen Adeyemi, and his wife who were later rescued by the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) and the state mobile ambulance personnel with the adequate support of the youths in the area. 

  According to the councillor of Ward A3, Hon Shewu Tijani Adisa Makanjuola, who witnessed the tragedy: "The building cracked and collapsed at exactly 11.30pm on Tuesday night and youths in our area commenced rescue operation while we called 767 security number to alert the state government which responded promptly.

"The quick response of LASEMA, police, LASAMBUS and fire service officials with the assistance of youths in the area saved the situation because it could have been worse than this."

     Some of the youths that were involved in the rescue operation told our correspondent that only people who lived at the 4th, 3rd and some at the 2nd floors were rescued, while some in those floors died.

   "Some of the people living on the 2nd and 1st floors were still trapped in the wreckage because the building caved in, compressing the entire ground floor. When that happens, rescue mission becomes difficult," he added. As at the time of filling this report, efforts were still being made by all the government agencies and youths in the area to rescue others that were trapped in the building.