By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

Nnewi—Providence saved what could have been a disaster as an uncompleted, five-storey building collapsed at Odume Layout, Onitsha, Anambra State, Wednesday night, shortly after site workers had closed for the day.

The incident, which occurred on 6, Adikiye Street, drew the attention of a large crowd of sympathisers who thronged the scene for search and rescue but there was no casualty.

Vanguard, however, gathered that no life was lost in the building collapse, which brings to six the number of building collapse incidents in Onitsha this year.

According to an eyewitness, Mr Chidi Onyeocha, the incident took place at about 7 p.m. on Wednesday after a heavy downpour.

The witness said all workers at the site had gone home after the day’s work when the incident happened, averting what could have been a disaster.

Reacting to the incident, chairman of Anambra State chapter of Nigerian Society if Engineers, Mr. Emmanuel Nwankwo, said the group would investigate the incident to ascertain the cause.

“We are worried by the incessant collapse of uncompleted buildings in Onitsha and its environs. I will be sending our team to the scene to get professional evidence  at the scene on what could possibly be the cause of the collapse.

“That would take some days before we can objectively make a statement on Odume Layout uncompleted building collapse. Incident building collapse has become a recurring phenomenon in Onitsha and its environs in the past one year. At least six uncompleted buildings at various locations have collapsed,” he said.