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Tag: Lagos collapsed building

  • Four die, six rescued from Lagos collapsed building

    Four die, six rescued from Lagos collapsed building

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed that six persons were rescued and four died following the collapse of a three-storey building.

    The building is located at No. 325, Bornu Street, Ebute Meta, Lagos State.

    At the scene of the incident, Mr Olatunde Akinsanya, Director of Operations, LASEMA, told reporters that the agency received a distress call at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and deployed a team to the scene.

    “Emergency scene management is highly complex, and casualty figures often change as rescue operations progress.

    “So far, six people have been rescued alive, while four have unfortunately lost their lives,” Akinsanya said.

    He said coordinated efforts of multiple agencies helped to contain the situation and ensure timely recue.

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    He listed the agencies to include Lagos State Building Control Agency,  the police, Lagos State Fire Service, and Federal Road Safety Corps.

    Akinsanya said despite of the magnitude of the collapse and number of people in the building at the time, swift intervention of the  agencies prevented much loss of lives.

    “The emergency services of Lagos State under the leadership of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu have proven to be highly effective and efficient. As operations continue, we will keep updating the public.

    “We urge Lagosians to remain calm and assured that the state government has state-of-the-art equipment to manage situations like this,” he added.

    On crowd control and security at the scene, Akinsanya commended the residents for cooperation, attributing it to increased sensitisation and synergy between emergency services and the public.

    “People now understand the need to give space for responders, and the residents have been highly cooperative,” he said.

    He added that rescue operations were still ongoing, as officials worked to clear debris and increase search.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that two persons were rescued early yesterday after about three days of being under the debris of the collapsed building, making the total number of rescued persons to six.  

  • Ambode orders investigation of collapsed building

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has commiserated with families of victims who lost their lives, most of whom are children in a three-storey building, which collapsed in Ita Faaji area of Lagos Island on Wednesday.

    Ambode commiserated with the family when he visited the scene of the collapsed building.

    The three-storey residential building, located at No 14, Massey Street, Opposite Oja, Ita-Faaji, housing a primary school on its pent house, caved in at about 10am trapping scores of pupils of the school in the process.

    Ambode got to the scene of the incident at about 2:42pm, describing the incident as unfortunate.

    He appealed to residents to allow rescue operators the space to carry out their operations without any hindrance so as to rescue more children still trapped under the rubbles.

    “I want to commiserate with the families of those that lost their lives in this collapsed building.

    “I want to quickly let Lagosians know that this is quite an unfortunate incident. All we are trying to do is to scale up this rescue operation.

    “Our response units are already here; we are getting additional cranes to be able to go deeper than where we are now to rescue more lives.

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    “I just want to appeal to people that when we are doing this kind of rescue operation, yes, sympathizers will naturally come but I want to appeal that they should give the rescue workers the chance to save more lives,” he said.

    The Governor said his Deputy, Dr. Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, had also visited the hospitals where some of the victims rescued had been taken to, assuring government would immediately take over their treatment and foot their entire bill.

    “The Deputy Governor is in the hospital actually taking care of those that were rescued and taken to the hospital most especially the children.

    “On the part of government, we would immediately take care of whatever it is that we can do, including the hospital bills.

    “All we are interested in now is to save more lives and also see how those that have been rescued are put in proper place and proper care,” he said.

    Giving a brief of the situation, the Governor said he had received information that the building was a residential one, with the school operating illegally within the premises, adding that about two floors of the building sunk to the ground.

    He said most of the buildings in the area had been marked for demolition but that some property owners in the area defied such notices, assuring structural defective buildings would be demolished.

    “The first observation is that this is an old building and it is only the Pent House and the other floors that we have been able to use to rescue people.

    “So far, from what I have been briefed, we have rescued about 25 people and some already dead but we were earlier informed that it was a school, the building is not technically a school, it is a residential building that was actually accommodating an illegal school so to speak on the second floor.

    “Like we have said, we have been carrying out a lot if integrity tests on the buildings in this neighborhood and as you can see, some of them have been marked for demolition but we get resistance from landlords but we must continue to save lives and we would intensify our efforts to see that those have failed our integrity test, we would ensure that they are quickly evacuated and we bring the structures down,” he said.

    Ambode also said that a full scale investigation would be carried out immediately rescue operations are concluded, vowing those found culpable would be severely dealt with in accordance with the relevant laws.

    “This is unfortunate but we will investigate what has happened and also see the punishment for whoever are the culprits.

    ‘’That is the secondary level but the most important thing right now is to save lives and I just appeal to people that they should give us the chance to save more lives,” he said.

    He assured rescue operations would continue until all victims are rescued, adding that the General Officer Commanding 81 Division and the Brigade Commander were on ground to maintain peace and ensure smooth rescue operations.

    “That is what is important to us and the more lives we save, the better for us,” he said.

    Responding to a concern raised by a resident on the increase in illegal schools in the area, Governor Ambode said all schools that fall within that category would be closed down.

  • Updated: 16 rescued, several killed in Lagos building collapse

    Updated: 16 rescued, several killed in Lagos building collapse

    At least 16 persons were rescued and several others feared dead after a four-storey building collapsed in Lagos on Tuesday.

    The incident occurred at Massey/Karena Street, off Campus Bus Stop, Lagos Island.

    It was gathered that the building caved-in at 2:30 p.m., shortly after it rained.

    Residents said the building was structurally defective, adding that a telecommunication mast was erected on the building two weeks ago.

    Five children and 10 adults have been rescued as at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

    At least five persons were still trapped under the rubble.

    Residents said a food vendor on the ground floor escaped by whiskers but her employees and customers who were eating were among those trapped.

    It was gathered that the woman stepped out of the shop few minutes before it caved in.

    Another woman identified as Iya Ibeji was said to be under the rubble with her four kids.

    Residents said two other female traders were under the rubble.

    Although operatives of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) got to the scene early, the crowd prevented them from carrying out their duty.

    The crowd also threatened to deal with journalists recording the incident.

    The Nation observed that the crowd, which turned down all entreaties from rescuers to leave the site, cut the ribbon used to cordon off the scene.

    Policemen and operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were unable to control the crowd as they turned to spectators.

    Emergency workers also had difficulty rescuing trapped victims due to proximity of the structure to the neighbouring buildings.

    At the time of filing this report, escavation had commenced and one of the structures near the collapsed building had been brought down.

    Electric poles around the structures were also pulled down.

    LASEMA’s General Manager, Adesina Tiamiyu, who led rescuers to the scene, said over 10 victims have been rescued.

    He insisted that their primary focus was to safe life, appealing to the crowd to allow emergency workers do their jobs.

    He said: “Honestly, it will be inappropriate for me to grant any interview now because people are trapped under the rubble. Besides, I can’t give you any statistics yet. I know that over 10 persons have been rescued.

    “You can see how tense the environment is. The people are not cooperating and I wouldn’t want to add more tension by upsetting them. I will grant interviews when we are sure no one is trapped underneath the debris.”

     

     

  • We warned occupants to vacate collapsed building – Lagos official

    We warned occupants to vacate collapsed building – Lagos official

    Occupants of a three- storey building that collapsed in Apongbon area of Lagos Island on Monday failed to heed repeated warnings to vacate the house, an official of the state building control agency has said.

    LASBCA Acting General Manager, Oyewale Joseph, told journalists that the building collapsed due to weak foundation and use of substandard materials.

    Two people died, while 14 others were rescued from the debris when the building under renovation collapsed at Daddy Alaja Street in Apongbon area of Lagos Island on Monday.

    Joseph said, “Before now, LABSCA district office on Lagos Island had served all statutory notices on this very building and having served all the notices, we have also sealed the building twice.

    “Last week Friday the building in question was sealed off and all the occupants were chased out by LABSCA enforcement team.

    “The developer took advantage of the long weekend and began illegal renovation of this building. There is no renovation permit and there is no letter from the supervising engineer.”

    He said LABSCA was doing its best to ensure that all the distressed buildings on Lagos Island and within the state are under its control.

    Earlier, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Tiamiyu Adesina, told journalists that the prompt response by the agency led to the rescue of 14 victims alive.

    “The agency received a distress call at about 7:00 a.m. concerning the collapse which prompted the immediate activation of the agency’s emergency and other response teams.

    “The agency immediately mobilised all the stakeholders to the scene and successfully rescued 14 victims with various degrees of injury, who were immediately moved to Lagos Mainland Hospital for treatment,’’ he said.

    He advised owners and developers of buildings in the state to strictly adhere to building codes and physical planning laws to avert unnecessary loss of lives.

    A resident of 14, Daddy Alaja Street, Mr. Femi Akinde, said some occupants of the building had just returned from the early morning prayer when the incident happened.

    “It happened at exactly 7:20 a.m. this morning, 14 people have been rescued and taken to hospital while two people died but people are still trapped on first floor and the second floor.

    “People were rescued on the third and fourth floor while the second and the first floors sank,’’ he said.

    He said the house was for residential purpose but the ground floor was used for business.

    NAN

     

  • Newly- wed teenager dies in Lagos building collapse

    Newly- wed teenager dies in Lagos building collapse

    A 16-year-old girl, Faizan Muritala was on Tuesday confirmed dead after their residential building collapsed in Lagos.

    The incident occurred at Kuata Area by Amara Olu Street, Mechanic Village, Agidingbi, Ikeja.

    The Nation gathered that their makeshift building located in a swampy area collapsed following a mudslide.

    The teenager’s death occurred barely 10 days after she married her husband, Mohammed, who alongside the deceased’s mother, Hawa, narrowly escaped death.

    The incident occurred less than 24 hours after a mosque situated at 3, Adepitan Street, off Ramat Crescent, Ojudu, equally collapsed, albeit partially.

    Our correspondent gathered that the heavy downpour that began on Sunday has affected many defective structures, forcing the state government to issue evacuation notices to residents.

    According to eyewitnesses, the deceased who was inside one of the shanties at the time of the incident, was trapped under the mud.

    It was learnt that of about 30 structures in the area, only four were destroyed by the mudslide.

    Residents claimed the deceased’s husband and mother were outside when the incident occurred and their screaming made other occupants to flee their shanties.

    Confirming the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Michael Akindele and Southwest spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, said the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, who visited the scene, has ordered the demolition of the other structures, insisting that the area was not habitable.

    Akindele warned residents of flood prone communities to relocate to upland areas until after the heavy rains to avert loss of lives.

     

  • Several trapped in Lagos collapsed building

    Several trapped in Lagos collapsed building

    Many workers at a construction site in Lagos have been reportedly killed after the building caved in Tuesday morning.

    The building, located at Osapa London, Agobi in Lekki, Eti-Osa local government area of the state, reportedly collapsed at about 8:40am, with some of the workers trapped underneath.

    The Nation gathered that the rural dwellers succeeded in rescuing six persons before the arrival of emergency workers.

    Two other persons, our correspondents learnt were recovered unconscious by the emergency services, and they have been rushed to the hospital.

    At the time of filing this report, several others were said to be trapped underneath the debris, while rescue efforts were ongoing.

    The Nigeria Police Force, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency were at the scene of the building collapse.

  • 10 injured in Lagos building collapse

    10 injured in Lagos building collapse

    No fewer than 10 persons including teenagers on Thursday sustained varying degrees of injury following the collapse of a two-storey building in Lagos.

    The incident, which occurred at 11 San Beach Lane, off Longe Street, Oworonshoki, affected the building which was still under construction around 11am.

    The Nation learnt that the owner of the collapsed building and the contractor in charge had taken to their heels, to evade possible arrest by the authorities.

    It took the combined efforts of rescue agencies to safe the affected persons who were trapped in the rubbles. The victims were reportedly working in the building when it caved in.

    The rescued teenagers – Monday Ahungbe (12), Jimoh Adebiyi (13), Oba Alafia (14) and Moses Atokiti (15) were said to be assisting the six adults construction workers.

    Confirming the incident, the southwest spokesman, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, said the timely intervention of NEMA, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), policemen and operatives of the National Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), saved the lives of the victims.

    Farinloye disclosed that the teenagers all sustained minor injuries and were taken to Folabi Medical Centre, Oworonshoki, before the General Manager, Lagos State Building control Agency (LASBCA), Mrs. A.B. Animasaun evacuated them for proper rehabilitation. He said two of the adults victims with major injuries were taken to Gbagada General Hospital.

     

  • Lagos to demolish ‘structurally defective’ buildings

    Lagos to demolish ‘structurally defective’ buildings

    The Lagos State Government is to demolish all structurally defective buildings as soon as it concludes investigations on them.

    The state Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed, gave the assurance while inspecting a three-storey building that collapsed on Thursday morning on Otto Street, Ebute Meta.

    He said the government was doing everything possible to avoid more building collapse.

    “Every building marked for demolition will be pulled down as soon as the agencies assigned to work on them conclude their investigations.

    Ahmed expressed hope that building collapse would soon be a thing of the past in Lagos State.

    He said the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, had constituted a committee to look into building collapse in the state and make recommendations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at least seven persons died when the three-storey building collapsed on Thursday morning.

    A motorcycle seller, who occupied the ground floor of the building, Mr. Chukwudi Ezeobi, told NAN that about 200 Honda motorcycles valued at N20 million was in his shop before the incident.

    Another motorcycle seller, Mr. Ambrose Aneke, said that he had about 100 cartons of motorcycle spare parts valued at about N3 million in the building.

    Also speaking to NAN, the Chairman, Mainland Local Government Area, Mr. Oladele Adekanye, said the council would do its best to assist in checking collapse of buildings.

     

     

  • Seven die in Lagos collapsed building

    ... Couple, baby among the dead

    The bodies of a couple, a baby and three others, have been pulled out a three-storey building that collapsed in Lagos on Thursday morning.

    Reports say seven people died in the incident, with three others critically injured.

    However, seven people had been rescued from the building on 29b Oloto Street, off Cemetery Road, Ebute Metta, which collapsed at exactly 2:00am on Thursday.

    The Spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-West, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said that the agency got information that the building started cracking at about 1:30am and finally gave way at about 2:00am.

    He confirmed that the rescued victims had been taken to hospitals for treatment.

    Emergency workers were still combing the debris for whoever might be trapped.

    Report says officials of the Nigerian Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Red Cross, NEMA, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the state Fire Service, as well as youths in the area, were helping out,

    A rescued resident of the building, Miss Dalikis Abdulamid, 23, told NAN that she was at the balcony of the second floor when the incident happened.

    She said that her mother and her four siblings were also rescued, but had been taken to hospital.

    According to her, they had been noticing cracks in the walls of their rooms, but their father used to patch these up with cement.

    “We did not know that the building will collapse. By about 2:00am when the building came down, some of our co-tenants were trapped, while some were dead,’’ she said.