Two Dead, 37 Rescued As Multi-Storey Building Collapses In Abuja
By Our REPORTER
Two persons have been confirmed dead, three still trapped and thirty-seven were rescued when a multi-storey building collapsed at Lagos Street in the Garki Village area of Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Abuja.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spokesperson, Nkechi Isa confirmed the incident early today, Thursday August 24, 2023.
According to FEMA spokesperson, “Rescue efforts are ongoing as the search for more victims intensifies at the scene of the building collapse at Lagos Street, Garki Village opposite the Garki police station in the FCT.
“A combined team of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), FCT Police Command, and the VIO are on the ground to carry out the rescue efforts.
“The two-storey building which serves both residential and commercial purposes collapsed on Wednesday night. 37 persons were rescued alive, while 2 others were fatally injured.”
According to her, the agency’s Search and Rescue team is awaiting excavators to intensify the search and ensure no victim is left in the rubble.
Already, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike had visited the area as efforts are intensified to rescue the trapped persons.
Addressing journalists at the scene, Wike reiterated his earlier comment that buildings without proper approval within the nation’s capital would be pulled down.
Last month, a four-storey building collapsed in the Life Camp area of the city with many wounded. It happened while workers were on the construction site in the Dape Area near the Berger Clinic.
Building collapse is a common occurrence in some Nigerian cities. Bad workmanship, low-quality materials, and corruption to bypass official oversight are often blamed for Nigerian building disasters.
