7-storey building collapses in Lekki with 2 reportedly killed and several others trapped

Two confirmed fatalities and numerous persons trapped are reported following the Sunday morning collapse of a seven-story building under construction in the Lekki neighborhood of Lagos.

The structure that caved in and fell is located at Oba Idowu Oniru Street by Ave Maria Hospital, close to Sandfield Bus Stop, in Lekki, according to a watched report from Channels Television.

Although the immediate cause of the incident which was confirmed by the Lagos Territorial Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, is still unclear, emergency workers and security operatives have already moved to the site to possibly rescue the trapped victims.

Farinloye said, “Seven-storey building collapsed at Sand field bus stop, Lekki. Six people are said to be trapped and responders on ground.”

The Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who also confirmed the incident, said that 6 persons were trapped, assuring that search and rescue operations have commenced at the site.

LASEMA said it responded to a distress call at the location at midnight and activated its response plan where six people were reported to have been trapped at the time.

The emergency management agency says it needed to deploy a heavy-duty equipment excavator for the rescue of the trapped victims.

Oke-Osanyintolu said, “Upon arrival at the scene of the incident, an uncompleted 7-storey building undergoing construction was found to have collapsed. Six people are reported to be trapped under the rubbles of the collapsed structure.

“The Agency’s heavy-duty equipment excavator will be required for the rescue of the trapped victims. We have activated the Lagos State Response plan. Operation ongoing.”

Meanwhile, rescue operations is still ongoing in order to save more victims from the scene of the building collapse with more updates expected to be given.