Panic as a 21 storey high rise building collapses in Ikoyi, Lagos

A 21 storey residential high-rise building still under construction in Ikoyi, Lagos, collapsed today with many feared trapped under the rubble and four already counted dead as at press time.

The building is located at 20 Gerald Road, Ikoyi, a high brow residential area of Lagos.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Agency, Nosa Okunbo, confirmed the collapse, saying, “A 25-storey building collapsed by Musliu Junction, Ikoyi, Lagos. LASEMA is on top of the situation.”

Also, the Director-General of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, noted that heavy-duty equipment and life detection equipment have been deployed to the scene.

While giving an update, Oke-Osanyintolu said, “Collapsed Building at Gerard Road, Ikoyi: The agency has activated its emergency response plan to the above incident. All first responders are en route to secure the scene while the heavy-duty equipment and life detection equipment have been dispatched.”

Three persons have been rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building by volunteers and emergency agencies on the ground while four have been confirmed dead and their bodies recovered from the collapsed building. Efforts are ongoing to ensure more rescue as of the time of filing this report

.The number of persons trapped is yet unconfirmed but workers and neighbours scrambled to dig people out of the rubble of the collapsed building, according to reports

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said they were trying to deploy the military for crowd control as apprehensive sympathisers insisted there are many people trapped inside the building.

“The Agency has activated its emergency response plan to the scene. Search and Rescue operations ongoing,” LASEMA said in a statement.

“The Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties & Intergovernmental Relations, it’s counterpart, Hon. Comm for Physical Planning and DG LASEMA are fully on ground.

“All first responders are at the scene while the heavy duty equipment and life detection equipment have been dispatched.”