July 09, 2015 – Not less than 7 artisans narrowly escaped death when a four storey building under construction situated at 38 Commercial Avenue, Yaba, Lagos state, suddenly collapsed leaving scores injured.
Construction workers said no life was lost neither did anybody get trapped in the rubble. Witnesses said construction workers were still working in the site when the building caved in at about 2:30 pm throwing the entire area into confusion as residents scampered for safety.
General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency,(LASEMA), Mr Kolawole Michael Akindele who confirmed the incident said the building was under construction.
He said nobody died in the building collapse incident pointing out that the laboueres working on the site were on lunch break when the building caved in.
“The building is located at 38 Commercial Avenue, Yaba. Fortunately, nobody died in the incident. All the workers in the building escaped. About seven workers, we were told escaped death. However, rescue operation is still in progress to the basement. The building is under construction.”
According to him, the agency could not ascertain if anyone was still trapped in the ill-fated building. We cannot ascertain that until we finish with our rescue operation because all what we are dealing with now is the search and rescue operation on the collapsed building. It is when we conclude this that we will able to speak on that,” he said.
“There are two buildings by the side that are partially affected. One church and one residential building, no serious damage. Presently the search and resue mission is ongoing. Nobody sustain. Injury because we were told they were on break when the incident happened.
“We can’t say yet until we reach the basement of the building. That is when we can ascertain that nobody is under the rubbles. But from the report that we were given by the workers, they said they are all complete. It is only after the exercise that we can make official statement on that”, he said.
Also confirming the building collapse the, National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye said no life was lost in the incident.
