Tragedy struck again in Lagos, yesterday, when a four-storey building at 3, Massey Street, Lagos Island, suddenly collapsed, with 14 persons rescued alive, while many were still trapped at press time.
The incident was said to have occurred at about 3p.m., with rescue operators battling to rescue the trapped victims among who were children, from the debris.
Presentng. gathered that the affected building owned by Kafo family , was initially a three storey building before an additional one storey was added.
At press time, 14 victims according to the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Adesina Tiamiyu , were rescued . Among them were children .
The cause of the collapse could not be immediately ascertained as rescue operators among who were officials of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA; Lagos State Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency; NEMA Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Red Cross; Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS and policemen, were seen rescuing trapped victims.
There were reportedly telephone calls from under the rubble , with trapped victims begging for help. Residents said that among those trapped was a pregnant woman. The GM, LASEMA stated that heavy duty equipment was being used to search through the rubble, adding that the operation was being done with care in order not to endanger lives of trapped victims.
A woman, who gave her name as Mrs Adeosun Akinfisoye, who resides on same street , said “ there was no sign of imminent collapse. We heard an explosion which caused everyone to take to his heels, only to discover later that it was a building that collapsed. People are still buried inside. A pregnant woman is among those under the debris.
