At least two people have been confirmed dead, while 16 rescued with varying degrees of injuries following the collapse of a building in the Alakija area of the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the building, which collapsed on Thursday, was a residential structure located on Old Ojo Road, by Alakija Bus Stop, off Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Satellite Town, Lagos.
“The incident involves the collapse of a storey building, an existing residential structure occupied by multiple residents at the time of the incident,” the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Controller General, Margaret Adeseye, said in a statement on Thursday.
According to her, the service received a distress call at 11:37 a.m. regarding a building collapse incident, and immediately, emergency responders from the Ijegun-Egba Fire Station were mobilised and arrived at the scene at 11:49 a.m.
Although witnesses had hinted at eight bodies, Adeseye said 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”.
“Regrettably, two persons have been recovered dead. Emergency responders remain on the scene, working tirelessly to ensure that all affected persons are accounted for and to safeguard the area.
“Further updates will be communicated as rescue operations progress,” Adeseye said.
Emergency responders are at the scene of the incident in continuation of a rescue operation. They include the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Navy, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the “incident is currently affecting traffic flow, with a backlog extending to Oluti”.
“An excavator has been deployed to assist in the rescue of persons trapped within the collapsed structure,” the agency posted on its X handle.
It said LASTMA officers are present at the scene managing the traffic situation and advised motorists to exercise patience, comply with traffic directives, and consider alternative routes where possible.
This is the second building collapse reported in the country in the last 24 hours.
On Wednesday, one person was confirmed dead while three others were rescued after the collapse of a building under construction along Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
It occurred less than 48 hours after another building collapse was reported in the Iwofe area of Rivers State, raising fresh concerns over construction safety and regulatory compliance in the state.
The incidents are the latest in the collapse of the buildings. Bad workmanship, low-grade materials, and corruption to bypass official oversight are often blamed for the incidents.
