Five Dead, 11 Rescued As Three-Storey Building Collapses In Abuja

Five Dead, 11 Rescued As Three-Storey Building Collapses In Abuja

No fewer than five persons have been confirmed dead after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Gudu District area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday morning at a construction site located behind Gudu Market, throwing the area into confusion as emergency responders, security personnel and residents rushed to rescue victims trapped beneath the rubble.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Department (FEMD), at least 16 persons have so far been rescued from the collapsed structure, while search-and-rescue operations continue at the scene.

In a statement issued by the Head of Public Affairs at FEMD, Nkechi Isa, 11 of the rescued victims were immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abuja, Asokoro District Hospital and Maitama Hospital for urgent medical attention.

However, five other victims were confirmed dead during the incident.

Most of the victims trapped in the collapsed structure are believed to be labourers working at the construction site when the building suddenly caved in.

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Emergency responders from several agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, FCT Police Command, and FEMD, were deployed to the area to intensify rescue operations and ensure no victim remained trapped under the debris.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with heavy equipment and rescue teams battling to reach trapped victims while anxious relatives and residents gathered around the site.

Officials said rescue efforts remained ongoing as excavators and emergency workers continued clearing debris from the collapsed building.

Although authorities have yet to officially determine the exact cause of the collapse, the incident has once again raised serious concerns over the increasing rate of building collapse in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria.

The latest tragedy comes barely weeks after another building under construction collapsed in the Jikwoyi area of Abuja, leaving several workers injured and sparking renewed debate about weak enforcement of building regulations and safety standards.

Construction experts and residents have repeatedly called on relevant authorities to strengthen monitoring of construction projects and ensure strict compliance with approved engineering specifications to prevent recurring disasters.

Meanwhile, officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration are expected to launch an investigation into the collapse to determine possible structural failures, negligence or violations of building regulations.

The incident has also triggered reactions on social media, with many Nigerians mourning the victims and demanding tougher sanctions against developers and contractors found guilty of compromising building safety standards.

Five Dead, 11 Rescued As Three-Storey Building Collapses In Abuja