Subscribe: Gist E-Paper
No fewer than eight people have been confirmed dead, while 26 others have been rescued alive after a three-storey shopping complex collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos State on Thursday.
The building, located at Oluti Bus Stop along Old Ojo Road opposite Eternal Oil Filling Station in Ori-Ade Local Council Development Area, caved in on Thursday morning, trapping scores of occupants beneath the rubble.
Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency workers continued searching for more survivors.
"As of 4:20 p.m., a total of 26 persons have been rescued, while eight fatalities have been recorded, including a baby girl. Search-and-rescue operations remain ongoing," he said.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as the structure suddenly gave way, with some claiming they could still hear trapped victims calling for help from beneath the debris.
One witness, Musa, who was riding past on his motorcycle, said he heard a loud crash before turning back to discover the collapsed building.
"I was going to Mile 2 when I suddenly heard a loud noise. I turned back and saw that the mall had collapsed," he said.
Another eyewitness, who escaped moments before the incident, said he had just arrived at the shopping complex when the building came down.
"I was carrying my child when I heard a loud noise and saw dust everywhere. I didn't know which direction to run," he recalled.
Some residents pointed to sections of the rubble where they believed survivors were still trapped.
"There is somebody's hand showing from that side, and someone is still making noises from underneath the building," one witness said.
Residents also alleged that the building had shown signs of structural failure for years. One resident claimed a business owner relocated from the mall two years ago after noticing cracks that suggested it could collapse.
Others said fresh cracks appeared earlier this week and alleged that the Lagos State Government had previously marked the structure for evacuation.
Emergency responders, including personnel from LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the military, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and other agencies, remained at the scene carrying out rescue operations.
Relatives of those believed to be trapped gathered at the site, anxiously awaiting news as rescuers worked to reach victims beneath the rubble.
All rescued victims and recovered bodies were taken to the Navy Town Hospital in Alakija for medical treatment and other necessary procedures.
