One Dead, 10 Rescued as Three-Storey Building Collapses in Lagos

One Dead, 10 Rescued as Three-Storey Building Collapses in Lagos

A three-storey building collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos State on Thursday, leaving one person dead, at least 10 others rescued, and an unspecified number feared trapped beneath the rubble as emergency responders intensified search-and-rescue operations.

The building, located on Old Ojo Road near Alakija Bus Stop, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Satellite Town, reportedly collapsed at about 11:40 a.m., causing panic among residents, traders and commuters in the busy commercial area.

Emergency teams from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), security agencies and other responders were immediately deployed to the scene to search for survivors trapped beneath the debris.

Confirming the incident, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency activated its emergency response mechanism shortly after receiving distress alerts regarding the collapse.

“LASEMA has activated its emergency response following the collapse of a three-storey shopping complex at Alakija, Ori-Ade LCDA,” he said.

According to him, a coordinated multi-agency operation is underway, with emergency personnel conducting systematic searches of the wreckage amid fears that additional victims may still be trapped.

“A multi-agency rescue operation is ongoing, with responders working systematically to search for and extricate anyone trapped beneath the rubble,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.

He disclosed that rescue teams had successfully pulled two victims alive from the debris, while the body of an adult male was recovered during the operation.

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“Two victims have been rescued alive through the joint efforts of LASEMA, LASBCA and CRCC Construction Company,” he said.

“One deceased adult male has been located. Recovery efforts are ongoing.”

The LASEMA boss further revealed that reports from the scene indicated that several shop owners and occupants may have been inside the building when it collapsed.

“There are reports that additional persons, including shop owners who had resumed business, may still be trapped. Search and rescue operations remain active,” he added.

To accelerate rescue efforts, authorities deployed heavy-duty equipment, including excavators, to remove debris and improve access to areas where survivors could still be trapped.

“Heavy-duty equipment, including an excavator, is being deployed to support rescue efforts,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service provided an updated casualty figure, revealing that 10 people had been rescued alive from the collapsed structure.

In a statement, the agency’s Director, Margaret Adeseye, said firefighters received a distress call at 11:37 a.m. and promptly mobilised personnel from the Ijegun-Egba Fire Station, who arrived at the scene within minutes.

According to her, the collapsed structure was occupied at the time of the incident, prompting concerns that more victims could still be buried beneath the rubble.

“As of the time of this report, 10 persons have been rescued alive with varying degrees of injuries and have been handed over to medical personnel for necessary treatment,” Adeseye stated.

She added that emergency responders remained at the scene, combing through the debris in search of additional survivors.

“Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as emergency responders continue efforts to locate, extricate, and evacuate any persons who may still be trapped beneath the debris,” she said.

Witnesses said the collapse triggered panic across the neighbourhood, with residents and traders rushing to the scene to assist before emergency agencies fully took over rescue operations.

Authorities have appealed to members of the public to stay away from the disaster area and allow emergency workers unrestricted access to carry out life-saving operations.

“Members of the public are advised to remain calm, avoid the incident scene, and allow emergency responders unrestricted access to carry out life-saving operations,” Oke-Osanyintolu urged.

As rescue operations continue into the evening, authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the collapse. Structural engineers and relevant regulatory agencies are expected to launch an investigation to establish whether construction defects, structural failure, poor maintenance or other factors contributed to the incident.

The latest tragedy has once again renewed concerns over building safety and compliance with construction regulations in Lagos, a state that has witnessed several fatal building collapses in recent years despite efforts by authorities to strengthen enforcement and monitoring.

One Dead, 10 Rescued as Three-Storey Building Collapses in Lagos