Panic erupted in Awka, the Anambra state capital, on Thursday, September 25, after a three-storey building with four suspended floors, located behind the Anambra State House of Assembly at Ekwueme Square, suddenly collapsed.
Eyewitnesses said the structure, which was still under construction and at the roofing stage, caved in without warning at around 11:40 am, trapping several people inside, including construction workers.
Eyewitnesses describe sudden collapse
One witness told reporters,
“The building collapsed this morning as some artisans were working on the roof. The structure made a loud noise before caving in, but no one can say the cause for now. Some government officials arrived, but rescue has not started because they are waiting for excavators.”
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Another bystander said residents and passers-by immediately attempted to dig through the rubble with their bare hands in a desperate effort to rescue those trapped, as reported by Punch.
Rescue efforts face major setbacks
Rescue operations were slowed down by a lack of equipment, with no excavators or heavy-duty machines immediately available.
The scene descended into chaos as locals struggled to assist without adequate tools.
Officials from the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and the state’s materials testing department were later sighted at the site to begin investigations into the cause of the collapse.
Engineering body blames poor construction
The Chairman of COREN-ERM Anambra state, Sir Victor Meju, gave an early assessment at the scene.
He explained,
“It was a five-storey building, with the sixth floor still under construction. Preliminary findings show it was a vertical collapse. Early investigations suggest poor concrete mixture and possible foundation problems.”
He added that the Ministry of Housing and the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority had been informed and were already coordinating with emergency responders.
Police yet to confirm incident
When contacted, the Anambra state Police Command spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was not yet aware of the collapse.
“I will make enquiries and get back,” he told reporters.
The number of casualties remains unknown as rescue operations continue.
Anambra: Trader dies after killing colleague in alleged ritual murder
Anambra trader, identified simply as Dangote Group, who was reportedly a trader at the Old Motor Spare Parts Market, Mgbuka Obosi, in Idemili North local government area of the state, killed his colleague, Mr. Chinemerem, mutilated his body parts, and stocked them into a refrigerator, after removing the victim’s vital organs.
The incident took place on Saturday, August 30, when the victim accompanied the suspect to his apartment at No. 14 Obinnakwe Street, Okpoko, Ogbaru LGA of the state, to recover money owed him.