Two individuals are reportedly trapped inside a three-story building under construction that collapsed on Tuesday evening in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.
The collapsed building is situated within the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital complex in Abakaliki.
During the search and rescue operation, one person was rescued and taken to the hospital for medical treatment, while another individual remains trapped inside the rubble.
A laborer who escaped from the collapsed building recounted that he avoided being trapped because he had stepped away to wash his hands.
“I was loading a bag of stones and the owner of the house was here with me, telling me to park it very well. He has finished paying us.
According to reports, only one person, who is mute, remains trapped inside the collapsed building as of the time of this report.
Another individual who was rescued has been taken to the hospital.
“The building did not give any sign that it was about to collapse. I was lucky because my tools were inside. I just said let me wash my hands here before I will go inside the building to collect my tools,” he stated.
Ebonyi Police spokesperson DSP Joshua Ukandu via chat, confirmed that men of the operatives and officials from the state Ministry of Works and Capital Development authority workers, are still on ground, trying to rescue the trapped labourer.
Meanwhile, the second person was later rescued late at night and taken to the hospital.
