The Lagos Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed two fatalities in the two-storey building that collapsed at Coast Street, Oyingbo, Lagos, in the early hours of Monday,October 27.
A statement by the agency also confirmed the rescue of 20 persons.
The statement reads;
“The incident prompted a swift multi-agency response following distress alerts received by NEMA.
“Upon arrival, emergency teams discovered several occupants trapped beneath the debris.
“Rescue operations commenced immediately, led by NEMA in collaboration with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other critical stakeholders.
“Extrication equipment was deployed to ensure effective clearance and retrieval.
“After several hours of intensive operations, 20 persons were rescued alive, while those with injuries were promptly evacuated to nearby hospitals for treatment. Sadly, two fatalities were confirmed.
“Following the final phase of the operation, all occupants were accounted for, and the search and rescue mission was officially concluded. The site has since been cleared under the supervision of the Nigeria Police Force, which also maintained security and crowd control throughout the exercise.
“Preliminary assessment revealed that the collapsed structure had been previously marked for demolition by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), but occupants reportedly ignored the evacuation directive.
“Agencies involved in the coordinated response included NEMA (Lagos Operations Office), LASEMA, LASAMBUS, LASBCA, the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
“NEMA commends the professionalism and swift intervention of all responding agencies and reiterates the need for residents to comply with official safety and evacuation notices to prevent avoidable loss of lives.”
