Tragedy in Lagos: One Confirmed Dead, 10 Rescued as Three-Storey Building Collapses in Alakija
Multi-agency rescue teams race against time as fears grow that more victims may still be trapped beneath the rubble of the collapsed structure in Satellite Town.
A three-storey building collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos State on Thursday, leaving one person dead and at least 10 others rescued with varying degrees of injuries, as emergency responders continue intensive search-and-rescue operations at the scene.
The tragic incident occurred at about 11:40 a.m. near Alakija Bus Stop along Old Ojo Road in Satellite Town, throwing residents, traders and passersby into panic.
Eyewitnesses said the building suddenly gave way, trapping several occupants, including residents and shop owners who had resumed business activities for the day.
Immediately after the collapse, local residents, alongside officers from the Area E Police Command and Satellite Police Division, commenced initial rescue efforts before the arrival of emergency agencies.
A coordinated multi-agency response was subsequently activated, with officials from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Nigerian Navy, Federal Fire Service, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Red Cross Society, and other emergency responders mobilised to the scene.
Heavy-duty equipment, including excavators provided by the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), was deployed to aid rescue efforts.
As of 3:40 p.m., emergency officials confirmed that 10 persons had been rescued alive from the debris and transported to hospitals for medical attention, while one adult male was confirmed dead.
Authorities, however, fear that additional victims may still be trapped beneath the rubble, prompting continued search operations.
LASEMA, in a statement, disclosed that the collapsed structure served as a shopping complex and that some traders who occupied the building could still be trapped.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said emergency teams responded swiftly to the distress call and are working tirelessly to rescue any remaining victims.
She noted that the affected structure was a residential storey building accommodating multiple occupants at the time it collapsed.
Meanwhile, rescue operations have continued into the afternoon amid heavy traffic disruptions around the Alakija axis caused by the ongoing emergency response.
Authorities have yet to determine the immediate cause of the collapse, while investigations are expected to commence after rescue operations are concluded.
Emergency officials have appealed to members of the public to avoid the area to allow rescue teams unrestricted access.
This is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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