Nigeria: Lagos building collapse: 9 dead, 27 rescued
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, has concluded rescue operations at the collapsed two-storey building in Alakija Bus Stop, Satellite Town, with 27 people rescued alive and nine bodies recovered.
The building collapsed at about 12:47 p.m. on Thursday in the Amuwo-Odofin area. LASEMA said its emergency teams, including the Sharks Response Team and Alpha Cobra Squad, arrived within 40 minutes.
All 27 survivors received pre-hospital care from LASAMBUS before being taken to nearby hospitals.
Of the nine fatalities, four adults were confirmed dead before responders arrived. Five others, including a two-year-old girl, were recovered during the operation. The bodies were handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for identification and release to families.
LASEMA said it worked with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASAMBUS, LASTMA, LNSC, FRSC, LASBCA, Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Red Cross and CCECC. A heavy-duty excavator from LASEMA, plus two from CCECC, helped responders access trapped victims. Operations ended at about 4:00 a.m. Friday after teams reached ground zero.
LASEMA said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed LASBCA to immediately assess adjoining buildings and enforce compliance with building regulations in the area. The Commissioner for Special Duties and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary provided oversight throughout.
The agency commiserated with bereaved families and urged residents to report distressed buildings to LASBCA or through LASEMA’s toll-free lines, 112 and 767, to prevent future incidents.
