Again, one dies in Lagos building collapse

Scene of the building collapse. Photo: LASEMA

Barely three days after a person died in a building collapse in Lagos, another victim has been confirmed dead in a building collapse on Adedoyin Street, Ijegun, Ikotun, in Alimosho Local Government Area.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed this in a statement on Monday.

According to the agency’s spokesperson, Olufemi Damilola, the Beta Team from Igando Base was deployed to the scene of the incident after the agency received a distress call at about 1:44 pm.

Upon the Beta Team’s arrival at the scene, PUNCH Metro learnt that they discovered that the building was being demolished manually by workers before it collapsed.

Damilola stated that one of the workers was trapped beneath the collapsed structure, while another sustained an injury to his hand.

“The Beta Team from Igando Base was immediately activated and deployed to the scene. Upon arrival, responders discovered a storey building that collapsed while undergoing manual demolition. Preliminary information gathered at the scene revealed that the incident occurred while workers were manually breaking down the structure.

“Regrettably, one worker was trapped in the rubble, while another who sustained an injury to his hand had been taken to the hospital for treatment before the arrival of the Agency’s Response Team,” the agency’s spokesperson stated.

According to Damilola, the agency’s response team collaborated with teams from Cappa and Igando bases, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Lagos State Ambulance Service to recover the trapped worker beneath the collapsed building.

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“The Agency’s Response Team, in a combined operation with teams from Cappa and Igando Bases, alongside the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and LASAMBUS, has successfully extricated and recovered the trapped victim from the rubble of the collapsed storey building that was undergoing manual demolition,” she said.

Damilola added that the body of the deceased had been handed over to the police at Ikotun Division, which later handed it over to a family member of the deceased.

“Tragically, the victim was recovered dead. The body was professionally bagged and handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Ikotun Division, in the presence of the Divisional Police Officer, and thereafter handed over to the family in line with established protocols.

“The incident scene has been fully cordoned off to ensure safety and to allow for further assessment by relevant authorities,” Damilola added.

PUNCH Metro reports that a building also collapsed on Akinola Street, off Ikorodu Road, in the Fadeyi area on Friday.

One victim was confirmed dead by LASEMA, while three others sustained injuries.