TRAGEDY struck, yesterday, in Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, following the collapse of a two-storey building under construction at the back of a new generation bank.
According to a source, the building came down at 10.20am. The building was alleged to be an extension of the bank.
Two buildings under construction had to be demolished before the machines could be moved in to evacuate the debris in order to rescue those trapped under the collapsed building....
The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, the FCT Department of Development Control and the Federal Fire Service were on ground to save the situation.
As at press time, about 12 persons were still trapped in the debris, four brought out dead, while two, who were seriously injured, had to be rushed to Nyanya General Hospital.
Meanwhile, Head, Public Relations of NEMA, Mr. Yushau Shuaib, said, yesterday, that the organisation as well as other agencies had so far rescued 12 victims of the collapsed building, just as it admitted that a woman was among the dead.
Speaking on the development, an eyewitness said: “The artisans on the site resumed work around 9am. It was barely one and half hours after they started work that we heard a loud noise. We thought it was a bomb. Although the area is swampy, there are other buildings on the same plot of land that are still standing. Most of the materials that are being used on the site are of low quality. The foundation is faulty.
“I think the owner of the house was bent on completing the house within a stipulated time. Construction of the house had been too fast.”
