Rescue operations continue in Lagos building collapse, five dead

Rescue operations continue in Lagos building collapse, five dead

A devastating collapse of a three-storey building at 9 & 10 Oremeta Street, Ojodu-Berger, on Saturday, April 19, has claimed five lives, with 12 victims rescued alive as of 02:41 a.m. on Sunday, April 20.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), which confirmed the figures, reported that the deceased include three females and two adult males.

The building, housing Equal Rights Restaurant and Bar, collapsed suddenly, trapping 17 people under debris. Rescue operations, initiated after distress alerts at 09:45 hrs on Saturday, remain ongoing.

LASEMA’s Response Teams, including the Tiger and Cobra units from Alausa and Onipanu, are coordinating search and rescue efforts, supported by heavy equipment like excavators, payloaders, and hiabs, alongside light rescue tools such as concrete cutters and spreaders. The area has been cordoned off for safety, with multiple agencies, including LASAMBUS, LASTMA, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, NEMA, Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Red Cross, in attendance.

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The cause of the collapse is still under investigation, amid Lagos’ troubling record of 19 building collapses in 2024.

The incident follows a January 2025 collapse in Ikota that killed two and injured five, spotlighting ongoing concerns about unregulated construction.

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) is on-site, and investigations are expected to probe compliance with safety standards. Community members and Ojodu LCDA representatives remain at the scene, supporting efforts to locate any remaining victims.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has expressed condolences and reiterated the need for stricter building code enforcement. As rescue operations continue, the Lagos State Government has promised a thorough investigation to address accountability and prevent future tragedies.

Updates on the operation are expected as the situation develops.

 

Rescue operations continue in Lagos building collapse, five dead