Ten persons, including a 17-year-old girl were rescued under the rubble of a four-storey building that collapsed at 15, Iga Idungaran Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State, Thursday. Fortunately, there was no fatality.
The incident occurred near the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu’s palace, Lagos Island, at 11a.m., yesterday.
It was gathered at the scene of the incident that the immediate cause of the incident was due to ongoing renovation being carried out on the residential building.
The structure was already marked by Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, for evacuation before it subsequently collapsed.
Men of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Nigeria Police, among other emergency responders rushed to the scene to save trapped victims.
Recall that the latest incident happened barely four days after a mosque collapsed at Yusuf Street, Papa Ajao, Mushin area, killing three worshippers, including a 12-year-old boy.
Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Femí Oke-Osanyitolu, said the 10 trapped victims were rescued from the rubble by joint effort of emergency responders.
It was gathered that to ensure a seamless rescue operation, the entire area was cordoned off. The 10 victims trapped under the rubble, comprised seven adult males and two females.
Speaking to Vanguard, Oke-Osanyitolu, said: “The initial eight rescued were given pre-medical care from the agency paramedics at Iga Iduganran primary healthcare centre, where they were rushed to for further care.”
As at 3.30p.m., all the trapped victims had been rescued from the rubble.
Oke-Osanyitolu, narrated, “All 10 people, nine adults and one 17-year-old girl have been rescued from the rubble.
“Having received pre-hospital care from the agency paramedics, they are now at Iga Iduganran Primary Health Care Centre receiving care. The remains of the building will now be levelled to ground zero while the adjacent building will undergo integrity and material testing.”
Meanwhile, demolition of the entire collapsed building was ongoing at press time.
