By Ayomide Otitoju
No fewer than nine people have been confirmed dead, while 27 others were rescued alive following the collapse of a two-storey building at Alakija Bus Stop, Satellite Town, in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed that rescue operations at the scene have been concluded.
In a statement issued by the agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Afolabi Olawale, LASEMA said the victims were rescued through a coordinated effort involving its response team, sister agencies and members of the local community.
“Twenty-seven persons were rescued alive through coordinated efforts by the LASEMA Response Team, sister agencies, and members of the community. Victims received immediate pre-hospital care from LASAMBUS and were transferred to nearby hospitals for further treatment,” the statement said.
The agency added that nine bodies were recovered from the rubble, including four adults who were confirmed dead before emergency responders arrived and five additional victims, among them a two-year-old girl.
“All deceased were respectfully bagged and handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) for identification and subsequent release to their families,” the statement added.
LASEMA said its Director of Operations, Olanrewaju Akinsanya, alongside the Cappa Base Coordinator, Salami, supervised the rescue operation.
To speed up the search and recovery exercise, the agency deployed a heavy-duty excavator to complement two excavators already operating at the scene, enabling rescuers to safely reach trapped victims and complete operations to ground zero.
Following the incident, the Lagos State Government extended its condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) to immediately conduct structural integrity assessments of adjoining buildings and enforce strict compliance with building regulations in the area.
LASEMA reaffirmed its commitment to rapid emergency response, professionalism and inter-agency collaboration, urging residents to promptly report distressed buildings to both LASEMA and LASBCA.
The Lagos building collapse occurred less than 24 hours after a similar incident in Rivers State. Structural experts have continued to attribute the increasing cases of building collapses across the country to factors including the use of substandard construction materials and non-compliance with building standards.
