Lagos collapsed building death toll rises: Hits 12 - 2-day-old baby survives

Dayo Ayeyemi, Lagos - 15.02.2008

FRESH revelation from the scene of the collapsed building that occurred in Lagos on Wednesday evening showed that 12 people — 10 women and two kids — were feared dead in the rubble of the structure at No 10, Oke Popo Street on Lagos Island.

The building, a three-storey, caved in at about 5.25 p.m. without giving any sign but was said to have been in a precarious state.

Ten out of 12 people trapped in the structure, according to an eyewitness, were residents of adjoining buildings who had come to rejoice with one Mrs. Bose, who had just given birth to a baby on Tuesday night.

The irony of the incident, according to the witness, was that while the mother and her well wishers died in the rubble, the new baby was rescued and had since been taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical attention.

Besides, no resident died in the collapsed structure as they had left for their places of work before the incident occurred.

But the general manager of the Lagos State Physical Planning and Urban Development (LASPHYDA), Alhaji Taored Alli, said the figures of those feared dead were conflicting, stating that all he knew was that some people died.

Before the Nigerian Tribune left the scene of the incident, the location of the hospital where the baby was taken to remained undisclosed.

Rescue workers from the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), officials of Julius Berger Plc and the police were still combing the debris in search of trapped bodies.

Findings also revealed that the developer of the building, who was identified as Mr. Sina Ahmed, was still at large.

He was said to be responsible for the construction of another collapsed structure at Isale Agbede, on Lagos Island, last year.

The collapsed structure at Oke Popo also affected two adjoining properties and there is the likelihood that they may be pulled down by the men from LASPHYDA.

Residents of the affected two buildings were seen moving out their belongings while symphatisers were helping them to pack them.

One of the residents, Mr. Tunde Yusuf, said that the collapsed structure was built in 1998 by a local developer. He added that his father was saved by God, having left the house five minutes to pray before it caved in.

Incidents of collapsed buildings have become common in Lagos. Three people were killed on December 24 when a three-storey building was gutted and later collapsed on Aroloya Street, Lagos Island.

Also last Thursday, a building at No 44, Imam Ligali Street, caved in on Lagos Island following a fire.