LAGOS — No fewer than 10 persons escaped death after a two-storey building under construction at 11, Sand Beach Lane, off Alonge Street, Oworonsoki, Kosofe Local Government Area, collapsed in the early hours of yesterday.
Vanguard report that the workers were busy with the construction when the building caved in on them at about 11:00 am, leaving 10 workers trapped under the debris.
Among the 10 trapped were four children, who are assistants to the construction workers. Three of the teenagers were identified as Monday Ahungbe, 12; Jimoh Adebi, 13 and Moses Atoketi,15.
Among the 10 trapped were four children, who are assistants to the construction workers. Three of the teenagers were identified as Monday Ahungbe, 12; Jimoh Adebi, 13 and Moses Atoketi,15.
Though they cheated death, they suffered various degrees of injury.
Sources said the deafening sound and dust which enveloped the community after the collapse caused pandemonium in the area.
Sources said the deafening sound and dust which enveloped the community after the collapse caused pandemonium in the area.
Mr. Adetayo Olawale, a resident of the community, said “the building collapsed while construction works were ongoing which led to pandemonium, as everyone scampered for safety.”
Another eyewitness, Miss Blessing Atoyebi said: “I heard a loud bang and all I saw was that the entire building had collapsed on the workers. While some escaped unhurt, others are still trapped under the debris. I can’t say the number of people under the rubble but I know that those in the building were working on the structure.”
Confirming the report, General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osayintolu and the South-West Information Officer for National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said the building collapsed at 11:00 am.
They also attributed the success recorded in the rescue operation to the prompt response of agencies, officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Police Force and the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA.
Farinloye noted that the injured were all rescued, adding: “The rescue operation has been concluded and no one is left under the rubble.”
The information officer said those injured had been taken to Folabi Medical Centre, Oworonsoki.
Farinloye said: “Only two adults suffered serious injuries and they have been transferred to Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada for proper medical attention.”
Farinloye said: “Only two adults suffered serious injuries and they have been transferred to Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada for proper medical attention.”
LASBCA decries child labour
Meanwhile, the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Mrs A. B. Animasaun, while checking the level of injuries sustained by the victims decried child abuse by engaging those children in such hard labour, promising that the state government would rehabilitate the children who were of Egun tribe.
Meanwhile, the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, Mrs A. B. Animasaun, while checking the level of injuries sustained by the victims decried child abuse by engaging those children in such hard labour, promising that the state government would rehabilitate the children who were of Egun tribe.
Survivors’ account
Explaining how it happened, Gabriel Ngeabi, a bricklayer from Cotonou, Benin Republic, said: ” I was upstairs working when one of my relatives called me to come down to see what was happening to the building.
Explaining how it happened, Gabriel Ngeabi, a bricklayer from Cotonou, Benin Republic, said: ” I was upstairs working when one of my relatives called me to come down to see what was happening to the building.
“He said there was something that looked like cracks by the side. As I was coming down, a block fell on my feet and one of the bricklayers started laughing.
“Immediately I got downstairs, the building collapsed. Fortunately, I did not sustain any injury.
“Immediately I got downstairs, the building collapsed. Fortunately, I did not sustain any injury.
“We were 10 working there, but only nine of us came out alive though some sustained injuries.
“The man that was laughing at me when a brick fell on my leg is no where to be found. He is a carpenter. He was working on top the roof when the building collapsed.”
“The man that was laughing at me when a brick fell on my leg is no where to be found. He is a carpenter. He was working on top the roof when the building collapsed.”
Another survivor, simply called Williams said: “When I noticed the crack by the side, I ran to inform Gabriel. I did not know it would collapse immediately. I was about carrying sand to the bricklayers upstairs, when the building caved in.”
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