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Two Feared Dead, Several Trapped in Anambra Building Collapse

Published by Tope Fakinlede on June 13th, 2024.

Two Feared Dead, Several Trapped in Anambra Building Collapse

A four-story building under construction at Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS) in Onitsha, Anambra State, collapsed yesterday morning.

Witnesses reported that several individuals were trapped under the debris of the building, which was nearing completion by a billionaire benefactor. The collapse occurred around 7:15 a.m.

Although there were no immediate reports of fatalities, concerns remain high for those still trapped. A source from the school noted significant financial investment had gone into the structure.

“The collapse began from the top floor and continued down to the ground,” the source explained. “Fortunately, the students’ hostel is located far from the construction site, preventing further risk.”

Chijioke Ojji, Director of Operations at DMGS Centenary, described the situation as beyond salvage, acknowledging the potential for casualties. He emphasized that efforts were underway to account for everyone and ensure their safety.

Victor Meju, Chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) in Anambra State, suggested that human error might be to blame. He stated that COREN would perform a forensic analysis to determine the precise cause of the collapse. Meju confirmed that some building materials had been inspected and approved, but a thorough investigation was necessary.

Rescue operations have begun, with officials from the Police Command, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), state Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwi Ibezim, and other commissioners arriving at the scene.

Meju mentioned that while the exact number of casualties remains unclear, the site engineer reported that three workers were on-site two days prior, and the phone numbers of two of them were currently unreachable.