Three persons reportedly died yesterday when a two-storey building collapsed in the Gwarinpa District of Abuja, yesterday.
About 20 persons were rescued, while many were said to still be trapped under the rubbles as at last night. It was gathered that the building collapsed about 10:18am.
Gwarinpa District is an area allocated to Federal Housing Authority (FHA) by Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for the development of mass housing estate.
Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Shehu Hadi said there have been indiscriminate changes in land use within the district.
Director (Development Control) of FCTA, Muktar Galadima said those rescued have been taken to hospital for treatment.
Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, said investigation will begin immediately to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the collapse.
According to an eyewitness, John Edwin, the workers on site, especially laborers, were over 50. Edwin urged relevant authorities to question the FHA management for illegally allocating green areas to commercial complexes.
The police also deployed its officers for rescue operations. The FCT Commissioner of Police, (CP) Sadiq Abubakar, who personally visited the scene, assured the people that the police would provide necessary support ease the rescue operations and keep hoodlums away.