Two people have been confirmed dead, while three others sustained injuries after a three-storey building used as an off-campus hostel for students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, collapsed in Amokpala, Orumba North LGA of Anambra State.
Gatekeepers News reports that rescue operations are continuing as emergency responders search the debris for any remaining victims. The building, identified as Elite Five Star Lodge and located beside Tonimas Filling Station, caved in on Sunday night, trapping several occupants beneath the rubble.
Following a distress call, a joint security team led by the Anambra State Police Command, alongside the Anambra State Fire Service and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), mobilised to the scene to coordinate rescue efforts and secure the area.
Speaking in Awka, the Acting Executive Secretary of SEMA, Ndidi Omega, confirmed that two victims had been certified dead, while three others rescued from the collapsed structure were receiving treatment at a hospital. She added that search and rescue operations would continue until officials were certain no one remained trapped.
The Anambra State Government has since sealed off the premises and constituted a panel to investigate the cause of the collapse. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Chijioke Ojukwu, said preliminary findings revealed visible structural defects in the building, alleging that the owner ignored warning signs and prioritised financial gain over the safety of occupants.
Ojukwu disclosed that the investigation panel comprises representatives of professional bodies in the building and construction sector. He added that integrity tests would also be conducted on neighbouring buildings with visible structural defects, warning that anyone found responsible for negligence would face prosecution.
