The rescue operation is not over and the number of people still in the rubble is unknown.
The death toll after a 21-story building under construction collapsed on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city and economic capital, rose to 36 today, the country’s emergency services confirmed.
“So far, we have confirmed the death of 33 men and three women,” said the acting coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Lagos (southwest), Ibrahim Farinloye.
“In addition, we can confirm the rescue of eight men and one woman,” Farinloye added, in statements collected by local media.
The rescue operation is not over and the number of people still in the rubble is unknown.
The damaged block collapsed on Monday in the Ikoyi district, on the outskirts of Lagos, around 2:00 p.m. local time (1:00 p.m. GMT).
At least 50 people were trapped in the work, most of them construction workers, according to calculations that the inhabitants of the area shared with Eph.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari offered his condolences to those affected on Monday “urging the authorities to intensify efforts in rescue operations.”
Building collapses are common in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, a problem attributed to the use of poor-quality building materials and negligent overhaul of buildings by the government.
On this occasion, sources from the Lagos regional authorities told local media that the construction company, Fourscore Limited, was only authorized to build 15 plants and carried out its plans without permission.
In this regard, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu, ordered an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
In March 2019, a three-story building collapsed in Lagos, killing at least eight people, including children. (I)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
