16 Trapped as Five-Storey Building Collapses in Port Harcourt

Author: Gist Correspondent

At least 16 persons, including a site engineer, were trapped on Wednesday after a five-storey building under construction collapsed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The incident occurred around 9 a.m., sending shockwaves through the area and triggering a massive rescue operation involving emergency responders, security agencies and local residents.

Eyewitnesses said several construction workers were on site when the structure suddenly gave way, burying them beneath heaps of concrete and debris.

The collapse caused panic among residents and passers-by, many of whom rushed to the scene in a desperate effort to assist rescue workers.

Sources at the site disclosed that the trapped victims included the project’s site engineer and a number of labourers working on the building at the time of the incident.

Rescue teams immediately commenced efforts to reach those trapped under the rubble, while anxious relatives and concerned residents gathered around the site awaiting updates.

As of the time of filing this report, the exact number of casualties had not been confirmed, while the condition of those trapped remained unclear.

The cause of the collapse was also yet to be determined, with authorities expected to launch an investigation into the incident.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with rescue personnel working against time to locate survivors beneath the wreckage.

Officials had yet to issue an official statement on the incident as emergency operations continued.

Further details are expected as rescue efforts progress.