By Olasunkanmi Akoni

The death toll from the three-storey building that collapsed on Oremeta Street in the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos State on Saturday, is now two. 12 others were rescued.

Read Also: ‘Everything suddenly went blank’, Lagos building collapse survivor narrates experience

Tragedy occurred on Saturday morning, April 19, when the partly occupied old three-storey building suddenly collapsed, leaving two dead and 12 survivors rescued.

This is coming barely five days after a storey building under construction collapsed at Agarawu Street, off Aroloya Central Mosque, Idumota, Lagos Island. Two adult males were rescued from that incident.

In the latest development, initially, nine victims were rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building, while four other survivors and two lifeless bodies were later recovered.

While the ground floor was occupied by an eatery, called Equal Right Restaurant, the other three floors were unoccupied.

The incident sent the entire area into confusion as residents raced to the scene to help trapped victims.

According to an eyewitness, Femi Saheed, the incident happened at about 9.30a.m., Saturday, as residents were still basking the festival mood of Easter being celebrated by Christians around the world.

Rescue

Men of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, as well as Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, later rushed to the scene.

The rescued victims were taken to a hospital for comprehensive treatment. Meanwhile, the cause of the collapse could not be ascertained at press time.

Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu and Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, told newsmen that the early arrival of the agencies saved the lives of those trapped victims.

They described their response as “swift, prompt, and effective”.

According to Adeseye, through the service spokesman, Skakru Amodu: “We have a three-storey building which collapsed this morning. Fortunately, we were able to rescue 12 adults alive with varying degrees of injuries.

“They were first attended to by Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS, before they were taken to the hospital for further treatment.

“Unfortunately, two male adults were however recovered dead and handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Monitoring Unit.

“Like I said earlier, the building is a three-storey, the ground floor was occupied being used for eatery, bar and parking lot.

“The other three upper floors were not occupied. It was an old building, and was not under construction.

“We have always stressed that it’s not healthy and safe for building to be left unoccupied for a long period because over time it losses it’s integrity and strength to stand the test of time.

“Unoccupied buildings are often prone to collapse any moment.

“While the cause of the collapse is ongoing, rescue operation has been concluded to ground zero as there was no victim trapped under the rubble.

“The situation was brought under control before 6 p.m. (There is ) No cause for any alarm.”

Other emergency rescue responders at the scene were: Lagos State Building Control Agency, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and Lagos State Ambulance Service, Lagos State Environmental Monitoring Unit, Lagos State Transport Management Agency, Nigerian Police, National Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and the Red Cross, Nigeria Police, among others.

Vanguard News