The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed the death of one male adult following the collapse of a three-storey building in the Apapa area of Lagos on Thursday.
The agency said eight other persons were rescued alive from the rubble of the building located at No. 28, Baale Alayabiagba Street, Alayabiagba community, Ajegunle, Apapa.
LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday in Lagos.
According to him, the agency’s response team arrived at the scene at about 11:09 a.m., shortly after receiving distress alerts.
“Following distress alerts at 11:09 a.m., LASEMA activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from Agbowa and Alausa,” he said.
“Upon arrival of the agency’s response teams, it was discovered that a three-storey building with a penthouse collapsed at No. 28, Baale Alayabiagba Street, Alayabiagba community, Ajegunle, Apapa. The cause of the collapsed building is yet to be ascertained.
“Eight adult males were rescued alive and given first aid by the Lagos State Ambulance Service before being taken to Ajeromi General Hospital,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.
He added that one adult male was recovered dead from the debris.
Residents of the area told reporters that the building had been undergoing manual demolition before it gave way, trapping several workers beneath the rubble.
LASEMA said emergency responders on site included personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Nigeria Police.
As of the time of filing this report, search and rescue operations were still ongoing.
