Scores trapped in collapsed building

Scores of persons have been identified trapped in a collapsed building at Lagos Street, Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

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The Public Relations Officers of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Nkechi Isa, in the early hours of Thursday, disclsoed that 37 persons have been rescued, among whom two were injured, and many others feared trapped. She said that rescue operation had continued.

Rescue operation at scene of collapsed building in Abuja on Thursday

According to the FEMA spokesperson, “Rescue efforts are ongoing as the search for more victims intensifies at the scene of the building collapse at Lagos Street, Garki Village opposite the Garki police station in the FCT.

“A combined team of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), FCT Police Command, and the VIO are on the ground to carry out the rescue efforts.

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“The two-storey building which serves both residential and commercial purposes collapsed on Wednesday night. 37 persons were rescued alive, while 2 others were fatally injured.”

She decried that the agency’s Search and Rescue operation was slowed by absence of elevators, saying that the team is waiting excavators to accelerate the search and rescue all the victims in the rubble.

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Rivers State, has visited the scene of the building collapsed. The minister promised that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will pay the medical bills of those injured in the collapsed building.

The immediate cause of the collapse was yet to be determined as rescue operation was in full swing to first, save the life of the victims trapped under the rubble.

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Building collapse has been a recurring incident in Abuja and other major cities across the country, including  Lagos, Benin City, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and others. Efforts by various governments have not been able to bring the incident under control.