A tragic incident unfolded on Lagos Street in Garki, Abuja, as a multi-storey building gave way, resulting in the reported loss of approximately 37 lives. Alongside this grim toll, a number of individuals remain trapped within the wreckage on Wednesday.
The Federal Emergency Management Authority has officially confirmed the occurrence. According to their statement, a total of 37 survivors have been successfully rescued from the debris, though regrettably, two individuals suffered fatal injuries.
Dr. Abbass Idriss, the Director General of FEMA, released a prompt update on Thursday morning, asserting that all 37 rescued individuals had been transported to various medical facilities in Abuja. The collaborative efforts of multiple rescue agencies continue in a bid to save more lives.
“FEMA’s Search and Rescue team has so far brought 37 individuals to safety, while 2 others lost their lives due to the incident. We are actively awaiting the arrival of excavators to enhance the search, ensuring no victim is overlooked amidst the collapsed structure,” Dr. Idriss stated.
A united front composed of the FCT Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FCT Police Command, and the VIO, has mobilized to undertake the demanding task of rescuing those affected.
An eyewitness present at the scene, who provided information to an online source other than The PUNCH, affirmed that the building accommodated numerous apartments, with shops occupying the ground floor. The calamity struck during a heavy downpour that commenced at approximately 11 pm on Wednesday.
The eyewitness recounted the harrowing aftermath, saying, “The scene was filled with cries and anguish as the building collapsed. Numerous lives are either lost or hanging by a thread as the building was densely populated.”
Amidst the chaos, with people in distress and the rain unabating, the situation unfolded as a scene of profound helplessness.
As of the time of compiling this report, emergency responders had not yet arrived at the disaster site.
