Ikoyi Building Collapse: 19 Dead, Nine Victims Rescued, Many Still Trapped

Femi Ashekun/

No fewer than 19 persons have died as a result of a building collapse at Gerrard road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Also, the Lagos State Government said nine persons have been rescued, even as some eyewitness insisted that several victims are still trapped under the rubble.

An eyewitness told journalists at the scene that going by the number of people at the site when the building collapsed, he believed no fewer than 10 victims were still trapped under the collapsed structure..

The government said three of nine victims that were rescued have been discharged from the hospital.

Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said this afternoon, promised that the state government will take full responsibility for the treatment and medical bills of rescued victims.

He said this during his visitation to some of the rescued victims, who are on admission at the General Hospital, Lagos.

Hamzat, who spoke to journalists after the visit, explained that nine people, all male, have so far been rescued from the debris of the building, adding that three of the rescued victims were treated and discharged on the spot while the remaining six are currently on admission receiving treatment at the Medical Emergency Unit of the General Hospital, Lagos.

While noting that the admitted victims are responding well to treatment and doing well, the deputy governor noted that the injuries sustained by those on admission are minor injuries.

He said, “So we have six people in here, all males, and thankfully they are doing well. The doctors have told us their state; they have minor injuries and nothing life-threatening thankfully. They are being treated and of course, as you know, the Lagos State Government is taking full responsibility for their treatment.

“We have their names and we will be getting in touch with their families. Nine people were rescued, six are here now, three people have gone home and as you know we have 10 dead bodies taken out of the place.”

Hamzat sympathised with victims, assuring them of adequate care during the course of their treatment.

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