BREAKING: 2 injured as two-storey residential building collapses in Abuja

A two-storey residential apartment in Abuja collapsed on Saturday morning, leaving several people trapped in the rubble.

The building, located beside Cupid Hotel on Cupid Road (Sultan Dasuki Way) in Kubwa, was formerly a hotel and later a hospital before being converted into a residential apartment.

It was gathered that the collapse occurred around 7 a.m., with many people still inside the building.

Emergency responders and security personnel were quickly deployed to the scene, but rescue efforts were hindered by the lack of necessary equipment, such as cranes.

“We arrived at the scene quickly, but we are still waiting for the cranes to arrive.

“We have managed to rescue a few people, but there are still many others trapped inside”, said an emergency responder. 

One of the survivors, who spoke in condition of anonymity, described the moment the building collapsed. “I woke up around 7 a.m. and came out of the house. I started hearing some cracks, and then I ran out. It was terrifying.”

As of 8:45 a.m., two persons had been rushed to a nearby hospital, while a few others managed to escape on their own. The exact number of people trapped inside the building is still unknown.

As at the time of filing this report, the cause of the collapse unknown. 

Meanwhile, authorities suspect that structural weaknesses may have contributed to the incident.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with emergency responders working tirelessly to save those trapped inside.