A multi-storey building under construction has collapsed near the Anambra State House of Assembly, throwing the area into confusion and panic.
The PUNCH reported that the structure, a three-storey building with four suspended floors located behind the Assembly complex, off Ekwueme Square in Okpuno, Awka, caved in around 11:40 a.m. on Thursday while at the roofing stage.
Eyewitnesses said the sudden collapse trapped an unspecified number of people, mostly construction workers, beneath the rubble.
The incident drew scores of residents and passers-by to the scene, many of whom joined in early rescue efforts.
It was gathered that frantic attempts were being made to save those trapped, but efforts were slowed down by the absence of essential rescue equipment such as excavators.
One eyewitness recounted, “The building collapsed this morning (Thursday) as some artisans were carrying out some construction works at the roof of the structure. The building made some noise as it was collapsing while some construction workers were at the site. No one can say the cause of the collapse for now, but some government officials arrived at the scene shortly after, but rescue efforts have not begun, as they said they were waiting for excavators to arrive.”
Officials of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria and the state’s materials testing department quickly arrived to begin investigations into the likely cause of the tragedy.
Chairman of COREN-ERM in Anambra State, Sir Victor Meju,, gave an initial assessment, “It was a five-storey building, the sixth floor still under construction at its roofing stage. It is a private building. It was gathered that the structure was roofed last Thursday.
“On-site preliminary investigation revealed that it was a vertically complete collapse to the rubble. On-site preliminary investigation also revealed that the collapse occurred as a result of a poor concrete mixture and a likely foundation problem.
“The relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Housing and the Awka Capital Territory Development Association, have been notified, and they are on the ground to monitor and offer rescue operations.”
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was not yet aware of the incident but assured he would make enquiries and revert.
