By Vincent Ujumadu

Awka—Tragedy struck yesterday at Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State when a three-storey building, under construction close to the permanent site of the Federal Polytechnic, collapsed, trapping seven workers in the rubble.

The building, which belonged to a private developer at Nwagu village near the permanent site of the polytechnic, collapsed during a down pour.

An eyewitness said that nobody died, though efforts were still being made to rescue the trapped workers.

Two nearby buildings were affected by the impact of the collapsed and the residents have been evacuated by authorities of the polytechnic.

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, who visited the scene of the collapsed building, said the contractor and owner of the building will be prosecuted if found to have cut corners.

He said that a panel of inquiry would be set up to determine the remote and immediate cause of the building collapse.

He sympathised with the students whose hostels have been shut because of the incident, but assured them that their safety was very important to the state government.

The Public Relations Officer of the Polytechnic, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, while reacting to speculations that the building belonged to the Federal Polytechnic, explained that the building was owned by a private estate developer and not the institution.

Onuchukwu said: “Our Rector, Professor Godwin Onu, visited the scene of the incident and immediately gave directives for the evacuation of all students residing within the axis of the collapsed building for fear of the unknown.”