At least five persons have been confirmed dead after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Durumi 3 area near Gudu Market in Abuja on Saturday morning. Emergency officials said about 10 others sustained injuries in the incident.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to reports, the building caved in in the early hours of Saturday, trapping several labourers and construction workers beneath the rubble. Rescue teams from multiple agencies were immediately deployed to the scene to search for survivors.
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) said emergency responders successfully rescued several victims from the debris and rushed the injured to hospitals, including the Federal Medical Centre, Asokoro District Hospital, and Maitama Hospital for treatment.
Agencies involved in the rescue operation include the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Fire Service, the FCT Fire Service, the FCT Police Command, and health officials. Search and rescue operations were said to be ongoing as authorities worked to ensure no one remained trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
FCT Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, who visited the scene, said FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had directed that all victims receive free medical treatment.
The cause of the collapse had not been officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report, although authorities said investigations would be conducted into the incident.
