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At least four persons have escaped death by the skin of their teeth after being trapped for several hours in the rubble of a collapsed three-storey building in Popo-Giwa, Masalasi Gogoro area, off Aikobi Road, Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The building reportedly collapsed around 5.30am on Tuesday, throwing residents in the area into panic as the occupants were believed to be inside the structure at the time of the incident. Project reports
The four people were eventually rescued alive from the rubble after rescuers, security personnel and residents mobilized to the scene and began frantic rescue operations.
However, no fewer than eight other people were feared still trapped under the rubble at the time of writing, with rescuers continuing efforts to reach possible survivors and determine the actual number of people affected by the collapse.
Residents mobilize for help
Blueprint.ng gathered that the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, when most residents in the area were still sleeping, making the sudden collapse particularly devastating and raising fears that several occupants could be inside the building.
After the collapse, residents of the community reportedly rushed to the scene to assist in rescue efforts before emergency agencies arrived.
The immediate response from residents reportedly helped create access points through parts of the rubble, while emergency personnel later joined the operation to evacuate those trapped.
The four rescued occupants were pulled alive from the rubble and delivered to necessary care, although details about their identities and the extent of their injuries were not immediately available at press time.
The rescue operation was still ongoing as rescuers continued to search the collapsed structure in the hope of locating other occupants who may have been trapped under the rubble.
Breastfeeding mothers, children fear being trapped
Sources close to the incident told Blueprint.ng that the situation was particularly worrying because mothers and breastfeeding babies were among those believed to be inside the building when it collapsed.
The presence of children among those feared trapped has increased the urgency of the rescue operation, with residents and rescuers working against time to locate and evacuate anyone still under the rubble.
It was not immediately possible to establish the exact number of occupants who were in the building at the time of the collapse.
Although initial information indicated that at least eight people were feared trapped, rescuers were expected to conduct a thorough assessment of the scene and establish the actual number of people who were inside the building at the time of the incident.
The development has also raised concerns among residents about the structural integrity of buildings within the area and the need for relevant authorities to ensure that structures under construction or already occupied meet approved building standards.
Emergency agencies are on site
The Kwara State Fire Brigade also responded to the scene to support the rescue operations.
Officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) were also present at the scene, along with residents who continued to assist emergency workers in clearing some parts of the rubble.
Officials from the Kwara State Emergency Management Agency were also at the scene as rescue operations continued.
Rescuers are said to be working carefully to clear debris and gain access to parts of the collapsed building where the victims were suspected to be trapped.
The operation was also expected to involve an assessment of the structure and surrounding area to ensure that rescuers were not exposed to further danger while searching for survivors.
At the time of writing this report, the true extent of the collapse and the number of people who may have been affected were not yet clear.
Cause of collapse unknown
The immediate cause of the building’s collapse has not been established.
Authorities had yet to release an official explanation as to what led to the collapse of the three-story structure.
Building collapses in Nigeria are often investigated to determine whether factors such as structural defects, substandard building materials, poor workmanship, foundation problems, unauthorized alterations or failure to meet approved building specifications played a role.
However, it would be premature to attribute Tuesday’s incident to any particular factor until the relevant authorities have completed their assessment and investigation.
Residents in the area were therefore advised to keep away from unstable parts of the collapsed structure and to allow emergency personnel to conduct rescue operations without unnecessary obstacles.
The rescue operation continues
The authorities’ main focus at the moment remains rescuing people who may still be trapped under the rubble and keeping the area safe for emergency personnel and the public.
The four people already rescued alive from the rubble have provided some relief amid the uncertainty surrounding the fate of those feared still trapped.
Rescuers were expected to continue searching until the rubble had been adequately removed and authorities were able to establish how many people were inside the building at the time of the collapse.
The accident once again drew attention to the dangers associated with building collapses and the importance of rigorous compliance with construction and safety regulations.
As rescue efforts continued in Popo-Giwa area, Masalasi Gogoro of Ilorin, residents, emergency agencies and other stakeholders remained hopeful that more occupants would be found alive and pulled safely from the rubble.
