Many trapped, 15 rescued as two-storey building collapses in Lagos

A two-storey building collapsed in the early hours of Monday at No. 54, Cole street, Cemetery bus stop, near UBA Bank in Oyingbo, Lagos.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) said it received a distress call at 12:20am and promptly dispatched rescue teams from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station, who arrived at the scene by 12:29am to begin emergency operations.

Margaret Adeseye, controller general of the LSFRS, confirmed that 15 individuals have been rescued so far.

She said the rescued include seven adult males, four adult females, and four children, all sustaining various injuries.

Adeseye said they have been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, and General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island.

The CG said preliminary investigations indicate that the building, previously marked as distressed, collapsed while residents were inside.

She added that rescue efforts are ongoing as emergency responders continue to search for more victims believed to be trapped beneath the debris.

Adeseye assured that the LSFRS, in collaboration with other emergency agencies, remains fully mobilised to account for all those trapped.

Last month, a three-storey building under construction at the Alagomeji area of Yaba, Lagos state, collapsed.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said four people were rescued but an unconfirmed number of persons were trapped.

Building collapse is a recurring decimal in densely populated Lagos.