Lagos govt confirms one dead, three rescued in building collapse

By Anthonia Okonkwo

One person has been confirmed dead while three others have been rescued following the collapse of a two-storey building under construction in the Fadeyi area of Lagos State early Friday.

The incident occurred on Akinola Street, near Fadeyi Bus Stop along Ikorodu Road, prompting an emergency response from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other emergency responders.

Confirming the incident, LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency received a distress call shortly after midnight and immediately activated its Cobra Response Team from the Onipanu Base.

He said the team arrived at the scene at about 12:12 a.m. and discovered that the building, which was still under construction, had collapsed, with construction workers suspected to be trapped beneath the rubble.

According to the agency, responders heard groaning sounds from beneath the debris, raising concerns that more victims could still be trapped and prompting further search and rescue efforts.

To facilitate the operation, LASEMA deployed an excavator to the scene. Meanwhile, the three rescued victims received immediate pre-hospital care from emergency medical personnel and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).

The rescued victims were subsequently transferred to a hospital for further treatment, while one fatality was confirmed. However, the identities of the victims and the circumstances surrounding the collapse were not immediately established.

Search and rescue operations were reported to be ongoing as emergency responders worked to determine whether more people remained trapped beneath the rubble. The cause of the collapse had yet to be established as of the time of reporting.