Abuja building collapse: Four rescued, search continues

Four persons have been rescued alive from the rubble of a collapsed two-storey building located beside Cupid Hotel, Sultan Dansuki Road, Phase 2, Site 2, Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, on Saturday.

The Acting Director FCT Federal Emergency Management Department, Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

She noted that “the FCT Emergency Management Department, was notified of the incident by passers-by and also received a distress call on the 112 emergency toll-free number at about 6.45 am.

“Two of the rescued victims have been taken to the Kubwa General Hospital. Efforts are ongoing to search for any other person that may be trapped in the collapsed building.

“The FCT Emergency Management Department, National Emergency Management Agency, FCT Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, the Civil Defense Corps, and the Nigeria Police are on the ground at the incident scene.”

The collapsed building contained 45 self-contained apartments. It was previously used as a hotel before it was converted for residential purposes.

She added that efforts are ongoing to search for any other person who may be trapped in the collapsed building.

“The FCT Emergency Management Department, National Emergency Management Agency, FCT Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, the Civil Defense Corps, and the Nigeria Police are on the ground at the incident scene,” she added.

Wenegieme assured that “search and rescue efforts are ongoing until the last person is removed if at all there is still someone trapped in the rubble.

She appealed to developers to follow strictly the building code and avoid the use of substandard materials.