The death toll from a building collapse that occurred on Sunday in Ibadan Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos State, has risen to eight people.
On Monday, the National Emergency Management Agency issued a statement confirming the development.
“Two male additional bodies recovered, making eight deaths,” the acting coordinator, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, said.
The bodies were placed in some of the emergency vehicles that had been transported to the scene of the accident.
The bodies were then transported to the mortuary.
When the three-story structure caved in late Sunday, NEMA authorities, along with other emergency response organizations such as the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, and the police, launched a search and rescue effort.
No not less than 23 persons including children were said to have been rescued alive.
The occupants were said to be in their various apartments when the building suddenly collapsed and trapped some of them.
Farinloye, who had confirmed the death of five occupants, said the collapsed structure had been marked for demolition.
He said, “Another three-storey building, on Lagos Street, about 200 metres away from the current scene has shown signs of distress with part throwing pebbles and falling off.
“The building had also been marked as distressed but the occupants were deviant.
However, the building has re-sealed and occupants evacuated by officers of Lagos State Buildings Control Agency.
“Four deaths including two male and two female. 23 people have been rescued alive including seven children and 16 adults. Another young man, Tahin has just been recovered making five deaths.”
The Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement late Sunday, had said some of the injured victims were rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for urgent treatment.
