The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed on Thursday that one adult male died following the collapse of a three-storey building in the Apapa area of Lagos. Eight others were rescued from the scene.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, made the confirmation in a statement provided to the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency’s response team arrived at the site at 11:09 a.m. to find the building completely collapsed, trapping several workers under the debris.
“Following distress alerts at 11:09 a.m., LASEMA activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from Agbowa and Alausa. Upon arrival of the agency’s response teams at 11:09 a.m., it was discovered that a three-storey building with a penthouse collapsed on Thursday at No. 28, Baale Alayabiagba Street, Alayabiagba community, Ajegunle, Apapa area of Lagos. The cause of the collapsed building is yet to be ascertained,” he said.
“Eight adult males were rescued alive and given first aid by the Lagos State Ambulance Service before being taken to Ajeromi General Hospital,” Oke-Osanyintolu added. “One adult male was however, recovered dead from the debris.”
Residents reported that the building had been undergoing manual demolition when it suddenly gave way, burying workers on site.
The response effort involved LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the National Emergency Management Agency, and the Nigeria Police.
Search and rescue operations were ongoing at the time of filing this report.
