Two persons have been confirmed dead with scores rescued after a two-storey building collapse at Garki village in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FCT FEMA) in a statement confirmed that the incident occurred on Wednesday night.
According to the Head of Public Affairs of the agency, Nkechi Isa, 37 persons have been rescued alive, while two others suffered fatal injuries.
She also stated that a rescue operation was underway to search for more victims trapped under the rubbles.
A combined team of the FCT FEMA, Federal Road Safety Corps and FCT Command of the Nigerian Police are currently at the site of the incident to rescue and evacuate victims.
“The two-storey building, which serves both residential and commercial purposes collapsed on Wednesday night.
“FCT FEMA Search and Rescue Team are awaiting excavators to intensify the search to ensure that no victim is left in the rubble of the collapsed building,” Isa said.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr Abbass Iddriss, has lauded the efforts of all stakeholders available, including members of the community, who were working hard to rescue trapped persons.
Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had earlier visited the building collapse site as rescue operation continues.
There was a similar case last month when a four-storey building collapsed at the Life Camp area of Abuja with many sustaining injuries.
The Abuja incident occurred at the Dape area near the Berger Clinic while workers were at a construction site.
Another incident occurred in April leaving two workers dead and others rescued with injuries after a fenced structure collapsed. The building collapsed at a construction site at Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Officials at the site had said that the building collapse incident was not a case of using inferior materials, but that FCT FEMA would work with other agencies to continue sensitising the public on measures to avert such incidents in future.