Three-storey building collapses, kills three in Anambra [GRAPHIC PHOTOS]
A three-storey building with a penthouse still under construction has collapsed in Egbu Umuenem, Otolo Nnewi community, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It was gathered that the building collapsed at about 1 a.m. on Sunday while the workers were getting ready to start plastering work on the structure.
Three persons, a father and two of his children, who were said to be among those to carry out work on the structure were instantly killed in the incident, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Eyewitnesses said some other people who were also trapped in the rubbles were later rescued during a rescue operation and rushed to St. Felix Hospital, Nnewi.
“The building came down at about 1 am this morning (Sunday) and it came with a thunderous noise. Three people, a man and his two sons, who were also supposed to be part of those to work on the site died in the incident. They came from Nimo community and were sleeping over so as to begin their work early in the morning before the incident happened,” the eyewitness said.
Some officials of the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, Anambra State chapter, led by the Chairman, Victor Meju and the Transition Committee Chairman of Nnewi North LGA, Chris Obiora, had visited the scene of the incident.
When they arrived at the scene, manual labourers were seen on a rescue mission as the excavator brought to rescue the victims broke down at the site.
Addressing journalists after the dead bodies were brought out from the debris, Meju explained that “poor foundation, poor concrete mixture, poor quality of materials, poor wearing cost capacity, nonconformity to standards, non-approval from relevant regulatory authorities led to the avoidable tragedy”.
Meju, however, announced the sealing-off of the site, adding that the owner of the building, Mr Chukwunafu Anamanjo, will be invited for questioning and an investigation will be carried out.
