Scores Feared Dead As School Building Collapses In Plateau

Several people were feared killed when a two-storey building belonging to Saint Academy Secondary School Busa Buji in Jos North local government area of Plateau State collapsed yesterday when students were writing their third term examinations, leaving persons and many others injured.

Many students and teachers were trapped for several hours before an excavator was brought from the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (IMDB) to rescue them. Some were however reported dead before rescue came.

There was heavy rainfall in the area in the last few days, and several neighborhoods in Jos were flooded.

Residents, especially parents who have children and wards in the school rushed to the scene to ascertain their fate.

Many were seen wailing while security men and emergency workers were busing trying to pull survivors out of the rubble.

Our correspondent who was at the scene of rescue operation saw seven bodies pulled out of the rubble.

It was learned that 38 persons were brought to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital (PSSH) while three died in the process.

Eight bodies were deposited at the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) in Jos.

The Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC) was announcing and pleading with residents to go to the Bingham University Teaching Hospital or any other hospital victims were taken, to donate blood to save their lives as the hospitals are in dire need of blood.

The executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Hon. Sunday Abdu, said the agency immediately mobilised its personnel and relevant agencies to the scene to coordinate rescue efforts.

According to him, personnel of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) and other relevant officials were also at the scene.

Similarly, the zonal coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Eugene Nyelong, told newsmen that the casualty figure would be ascertained on completion of recuse operations.

Efforts to speak to the authorities of the two hospitals were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

Parents of both wounded and dead students were seen at ECWA Specialist Hospital in Jankwanu, Plateau State Specialist  Hospital (PSSH) and Ola Hospital wailing while sympathisers, especially women, gathered to console parents of the students.

General Manager of JMDB, Arch. Hart Bankat, could not be reached at the time of filing this report.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang has expressed deep sympathy with the families of affected students and staff of the school.

A statement issued by the director of press and public affairs Mr. Gyang Bere said the governor received the heartbreaking news with grief and sorrow, describing the tragedy as unfortunate and untimely.