Ikoyi building collapse: Rescue team establishes contact with some trapped victims
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said it has established contact with some of the victims trapped in the 21-Storey building that collapsed on Gerard Road, Ikoyi.
Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, NEMA Coordinator, South West, disclosed this to newsmen as the rescue operation in search of the victims intensified.
Farinloye said that the victim, who spoke to one of his relatives and confirmed by the rescue team, said some of them gathered around the mustard point in the building when it collapsed.
He noted that rescue operations had intensified, but with caution, to ensure that victims who were still alive would come out unhurt.
Real nonsense people by Prince Charles Dickson
The storey building collapsed around 2pm on Monday with scores of people trapped in the building.
Owner of collapsed building got approval to construct only 15 floors, but built 21 floors – LASBCA
Many workers were feared trapped in a 21-storey building under construction which collapsed on Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday.
An eyewitness said on condition of anonymity that the building collapsed around 2.30 p.m.
The witness, who is also a worker on-site, said that five dead bodies were seen at the top of the rubbles of the collapsed building.
He added that two persons had so far been rescued alive.
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According to eyewitness reports the owner of the building one Mr Wale Bobb was said to be having a meeting with some expatriates when the 21-storey building suddenly gave way and collapsed on them, with many construction workers and developers.
Another witness at the site said that his brother who is all trapped in the building just came back from America wanted to see the building.
Also, another man in the building was said to be travelling out of the country tonight but wanted to see the building too.
After waiting for over three hours the men of the Federal, state Fire Services and Rescue Team and men of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, started rescue operations at about 17 05 pm to see if they can still save the lives of those trapped in the building rubble.
Heavy-duty equipment was used by the LASEMA to excavate the rubbles.
Many of the construction workers and developers were angry that it took the rescue team over three hours to commence rescue.
As at the time of filing this report about over five workers have been rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building by volunteers and emergency agencies on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Babafemi Hamzat, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu were at the scene of the incident.
Recalled that the Lagos, the state government recently re-launched certificate of completion and fitness. to forestall building collapse
Also, some bodies were removed from the rubbles shortly before emergency responders, comprising Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, National Emergency Management Agency and Lagos Building Control Agency arrived at the building site.
As of 4.50 p.m., no official rescue operation had begun.
Angry youths and some of the workers were seen doing the little they could.
Excavators from the relevant agencies were still been awaited as at 5.45 p.m. while crowd control remained a challenge at the scene.
