Emergency responders have counted five casualties from the debris of a three-storey building which collapsed on Saturday in the Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA,on Sunday morning updated its casualty report, stating that four more bodies were recovered overnight, bringing the death toll to five. Thirteen individuals were rescued and are currently receiving medical attention.
The building, reportedly undergoing construction at the time of the incident, caved in early Saturday morning. Eyewitnesses said the structure had long shown signs of distress, raising fears among residents.
“That building was a ticking time bomb,” a resident said. “I barely went there to buy food because I feared it would collapse one day.”
Emergency response teams from LASEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the police were swiftly mobilised to the site following a distress call received by NEMA at 8:32 a.m.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed that the building had been previously converted into a restaurant without proper approvals. He said additional construction work had been ongoing before the collapse.
READ ALSO: NEMA reports one death at Ojodu building collapse
“It was an old building converted into an eatery. Additional construction had been carried out before the structure finally collapsed,” he said. “We are proceeding methodically with both heavy and light-duty equipment to reach ground zero.”
Among those rescued were restaurant staff, customers, and an entire family who were inside the building at the time of the collapse. Five adult women were among the survivors treated at the scene.
While the cause of the collapse is still under investigation, LASEMA attributed the disaster to unapproved structural modifications. The agency has since cordoned off the site and commenced a formal inquiry.
“This is a serious warning against tampering with ageing structures,” Oke-Osanyintolu said, urging property owners to seek proper approvals before altering buildings.
Rescue operations are still ongoing with all first responders present at the scene.
Crediblenewsng.com
