Collapsed Building: Boy Rescued with Injuries, Death Toll Now 8

Matilda Omonaiye/

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Wednesday, said the number of deaths from Tuesday’s collapsed building in Lagos has increased to eight.

Two people were earlier confirmed dead from the incident, with many reportedly trapped.

South-West spokesman for NEMA, Alhaji Ibrahim Farinloye, disclosed the latest casualty figure today.

Farinloye further disclosed that one more person had been pulled out of the rubble; 14 people, including five children and nine adults, were rescued on Tuesday.

He identified the latest survivor as a 11-year-old boy who was seriously injured during the rescue operation.

The four-storey building, located at Tokunbo, off Odunfa Road, Carrena/Martins Street, Lagos Island, collapsed at about 12pm, on Tuesday

The rescue team, comprising the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Ambulance Service, the Lagos State Fire Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Red Cross and the police, are still busy at the scene.

Eyewitnesses claimed, on Tuesday, a lot of people were still trapped under the rubble.

They said those still trapped include staff and customers of a restaurant located on the ground floor of the building.

Rescue operation was hampered by the crowd, which defied the security cordon to invade the scene of the incident.

Residents said a telecoms mast recently erected on top of the already defective building could have contributed to its eventual collapse.

0