Uncertainty surrounded the fate of several occupants on Thursday after a three-storey building collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos State, leaving an unspecified number of people feared trapped beneath the rubble.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to confirm the number of persons in the building when it gave way or whether there were fatalities or injuries, deepening anxiety among residents and relatives of those believed to have been inside the structure.
The building reportedly collapsed at about 11:40 a.m., according to eyewitnesses, who said the incident occurred without warning and sent residents and passers-by scrambling for safety.
Witnesses said the structure suddenly caved in, throwing the neighbourhood into confusion as clouds of dust enveloped the area. Many residents immediately rushed to the scene in a desperate bid to rescue those feared trapped beneath the debris.
The exact number of occupants remained unclear, making it difficult to determine the scale of the disaster. Residents expressed fears that several people could still be buried under the collapsed structure.
At the time this report was filed, emergency responders and rescue agencies had yet to arrive at the scene, leaving local residents and volunteers to commence rescue efforts with limited equipment.
The delay in the arrival of emergency personnel heightened concerns over the chances of survival for anyone trapped beneath the rubble, as bystanders continued to remove debris in search of victims.
Authorities had also not disclosed the cause of the collapse, and no official statement had been issued regarding the incident.
The latest collapse is expected to renew concerns over building safety and regulatory compliance in Lagos, where incidents involving structural failures have repeatedly resulted in deaths, injuries and the destruction of property.
Emergency officials are expected to provide updates on the number of casualties, the progress of rescue operations and the possible cause of the collapse as investigations commence.
