One person has been confirmed dead while unconfirmed number sustained varying degrees of injury in a building collapse in Akpaka GRA Phase II, Onitsha, Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The two-storey residential building located on Prince Chinedu Akwuaka Street reportedly caved in on Wednesday, trapping two occupants, one of whom was later confirmed dead.
According to residents of the area, who attributed the ugly incident to flash flood that affected the old foundation of the building, the deceased was a visitor to a resident of the affected structure.
“The deceased, a trader, had come to visit his sister who lived in the building and decided to sleep over. He was still in bed that morning when the building caved in due to heavy downpour.
“The 33 Divisional Police Officer stormed the scene with his team, rescued the victims and took them to the hospital where one was confirmed dead on arrival and another was placed on danger list,” a resident said.
Recalling his ordeal, one of the survivors, who identified himself simply as Ekene and lived on the second floor of the building, said his wife had left for work with their daughter and was alone in the flat when the incident occurred.
Read Also: Ondo police arrest ‘notorious gunrunner’ supplying arms to Osun, Kogi, Edo, Kwara
He said he first heard a loud sound before another louder one as the building collapsed on him.
Ekene said: “The building fell on me and I feared for my life. I prayed to God to spare me, at least for the good things I have done for people.
“After the building fell, it was dark, and I could hear someone else crying for help.
“With difficulty, I navigated through the debris and came out with physical injuries.
“Thank God, medical examination and lab results later confirmed the injuries were not life-threatening.
“The other victim, who was initially trapped in a different section of the building and was shouting for help, was later rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital.
“Unfortunately, despite emergency care, he later gave up due to the severe injuries he sustained, particularly the fractures he had on his head.
“He was confirmed dead later in the evening, throwing his young family into mourning.”
The Chairman, Onitsha North Local Government Area, Hon. Nweze Tony Nwora, who later visited the scene with emergency responders and local security officers, ordered immediate cordoning off of the site to prevent further injuries.
According to him, the collapse might not be an isolated incident, blaming possible regulatory breaches or construction malpractice in the area.
He pledged full investigation to determine the remote cause of the collapse, just as he assured of prosecuting anyone found culpable.