A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday in Ikorodu, Lagos State, as a two-storey building under construction suddenly collapsed.
The unfortunate event, which took place around 2:00 p.m. at Otta-Ona Junction opposite a Mobil filling station, left one person dead and ten others rescued.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described the moment the building gave way as terrifying.
Panic spread quickly as people rushed to help before emergency services arrived.
However, structured rescue efforts began shortly after the incident was reported.
According to Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), a distress call was received at exactly 2:02 p.m.
“Following a distress alert received at 2:02 p.m., LASEMA activated the State’s Emergency Response Plan with teams dispatched from Agbowa and Alausa,” he said.
“Upon arrival at 2:40 p.m., it was discovered that a two-storey building under construction had collapsed, trapping three individuals beneath the debris.
The cause of the collapse is yet to be determined,” Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu added.
Furthermore, he confirmed that nine adult males were pulled out alive and treated on the spot by LASEMA’s Pre-Hospital Care Unit.
Sadly, one person was not so lucky, as their body was recovered from the rubble during the operation.
Search and rescue efforts were led by LASEMA’s Tiger and Lion Response Teams.
The area was cordoned off immediately to avoid further danger, and an excavator was brought in to support the rescue operation.
In addition, other key agencies such as the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Police, and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) also joined the mission.
The building collapse in Lagos has once again raised deep concerns about the use of substandard materials in construction projects.
This tragic incident highlights the urgent need for proper supervision and regulation in the building industry.
Authorities are still working to determine what led to the collapse, and an investigation is expected to begin soon.
