Ten individuals, including a 17-year-old girl, narrowly escaped death when a four-storey building at 15 Iga Idungaran Street collapsed yesterday morning. Miraculously, all trapped victims were rescued alive, averting what could have been a catastrophic tragedy.
The collapse occurred at approximately 11 a.m., near the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu. The building, under renovation, had previously been marked for evacuation by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), underscoring the precarious condition it was in.
Swift and coordinated efforts by the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Nigeria Police, among other emergency responders, led to the successful rescue of the victims. The scene was a hive of activity as rescuers battled against time to save those trapped beneath the rubble.
Dr. Femí Oke-Osanyitolu, Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, confirmed the rescue operation’s success. “All 10 people, nine adults and one 17-year-old girl have been rescued from the rubble,” he stated. “They have received pre-hospital care from our agency paramedics and are now at Iga Iduganran Primary Health Care Centre receiving further treatment.”
The incident follows closely on the heels of another building collapse in the Papa Ajao, Mushin area, where a mosque’s collapse tragically claimed three lives, including that of a 12-year-old boy. This recent incident has heightened concerns about building safety standards in Lagos.
Eyewitnesses at the scene recounted the chaos and relief as each victim was brought out alive. The area was cordoned off to ensure a seamless rescue operation, and by 3:30 p.m., all trapped individuals had been freed from the debris.
The Lagos State government has since initiated the demolition of the collapsed building to prevent any further danger. Adjacent buildings are also undergoing integrity and material testing to avoid future incidents.
As Lagosians breathe a collective sigh of relief, this near-tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of building safety and regulatory compliance in preventing such disasters.
