Lagos collapsed building deaths now 45, fresh corpses recovered

A total of 45 corpses have so far been pulled out of the high-rise building which collapsed last Monday in Ikoyi, Lagos, the Lagos State Government has said.

It said two fresh copses were recovered from the debris on Wednesday as recovery operation continued at the building collapse site.

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, stated this in an update given last night.

He also said contrary to speculations, no directive had been given for the demolition of the two high-rise buildings standing at the site of the 21-storey collapsed building in Ikoyi, Lagos.

His statement read in part, “The panel of inquiry instituted to establish issues surrounding the collapse of the building has continued to sit and an integrity test is yet to be conducted on the buildings. It is, therefore, wrong to assert or speculate that the buildings will be demolished.

“The operation at the site of the collapsed building continues. Vehicular movement around the site has been smooth, following the reopening of the road.

“Two more bodies were recovered from the site today. The recovery of the two bodies has brought to 45 the number of bodies retrieved from the site.

“The identification of bodies of the victims of the incident has continued at IDH, Yaba, Lagos Mainland. Thirty-two families have come forward to submit samples for the DNA to identify bodies that they wish to claim. In cases where identification is clear and there are no arguments, the bodies will be released to the families.

“A committee to supervise the identification and release of the bodies has begun work. It comprises senior officials of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice.”