1 Dead, Others Escape As 2-Storey Building Collapses In Lagos

At least one person has been confirmed dead. In contrast, the emergency management team rescued 26 others from the rubble of the two-storey building that collapsed Sunday night at 54 Cole Street, Cemetery Bus Stop, near UBA Bank in the Oyingbo area of Lagos State.

Our correspondent gathered that the rescued occupants, who sustained serious injuries, were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta, and the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, for urgent medical attention.

Confirming the incident on Monday, the Director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), Margaret Adeseye, said her agency responded swiftly to the tragic incident and teamed up with other emergency management teams to rescue 15 people, including seven men, four women, and four children, from the rubble of the ill-fated building.

She said the building had been marked as distressed before it caved in. The emergency call was received at 12:20 a.m., and rescue teams arrived by 12:29 a.m.

She explained that rescue operations are ongoing, and the team works tirelessly to ensure no one remains trapped under the rubble.

As of the time this report was filed, the Lagos State government had ordered the evacuation of residents living in the building adjacent to the collapsed house.

Authorities have raised concerns over the stability of a second adjoining building, which has now been assessed as structurally unsafe. They said this necessitated the order to the occupants to vacate the property immediately to prevent another potential collapse.

The residents said they were still struggling to rescue trapped victims before emergency responders arrived at the scene.

LEADERSHIP checks showed that emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and security personnel, are still on-site as of the time of filing this report, working carefully to ensure that the remaining trapped individuals are safely rescued.

Meanwhile, residents at the scene continue to express anxiety, urging the government to speed up rescue efforts and enforce stronger monitoring of ageing and unsafe buildings in the area.