Five Die, Five Rescued in Lagos Building Collapse
In the early hours of yesterday, a tragic building collapse occurred at No. 13 Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Mende, Maryland, Lagos, resulting in the deaths of five individuals and the rescue of five others.
The incident, which happened at 3:49 am, prompted an immediate response from emergency services. Rescue teams, comprising local firefighters, medical personnel, and volunteers, swiftly arrived at the scene to conduct search and rescue operations. Three of the survivors were transported to Gbagada General Hospital, while the remaining two were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Mrs. Ibitayo Aderonke, head of the Search and Rescue Unit at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Lagos Territorial Office, provided an update: “All the men were site workers. They received pre-hospital care on location before being transported to the hospital. The State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) was contacted to handle the remains of the five fatalities.”
Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed the ongoing rescue efforts and expressed sympathy for those affected by the collapse. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic event,” she said.
Adewale Ayuba, a friend of six victims, recounted the previous evening: “We came from Ibadan yesterday to work on this site. It has been a long time since we saw each other. We started eating together, talking until 10 pm last night.”
While the exact cause of the collapse is still under investigation, initial reports indicate possible structural weaknesses. A local resident, Mrs. Yusuf Jumoke, urged the government to conduct integrity tests on buildings to prevent similar incidents. She learned about the collapse when her neighbor screamed while she was asleep.
The incident highlights the urgent need for stringent building safety regulations and regular inspections to safeguard lives and property.
