20 people confirmed dead in Lagos building collapse, nine rescued

Twenty bodies have been pulled out of the rubble of the 21-storey building that collapsed in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State on Monday.

The National Emergency Management Agency disclosed this on Tuesday about 24 hours after the high-rise building still under construction caved in.

According to the agency, nine people have also been rescued.

NEMA spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye, who gave the updates on the rescue efforts, said the operation was still ongoing and urged those whose family members were still trapped to be patient.

In the early hours of Tuesday, rescue team comprising National Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the federal and state fire services, the police, Neighborhood Watch, among others were seen excavating the debris in search of survivors and bodies at the scene of the incident.

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, also said in a statement, “Nine persons – all men – have been pulled out of the rubble alive. They have been taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, 14 others were brought out dead – as at 2pm.”

Part of the statement read, “Mr Sanwo-Olu thanks all first responders and those who have joined the rescue efforts, including construction giants Julius Berger, Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

“A help desk is to be set up at the site for people seeking information about their relations who may have been involved in the incident.

“The media are hereby notified that the government will be releasing information whenever the need arises to avoid any sensational reporting of the unfortunate incident.

“The Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, was today at the site to encourage rescuers and comfort relations of those trapped in the rubble. Dr. Hamzat left the site for the Lagos Island General Hospital to see the survivors.”

 

Meanwhile, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state governor, has suspended Gbolahan Oki, the general manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

 

The suspension came after Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of the state, had said construction at the collapsed building was once stopped after it failed a structural integrity test.