Following repeated warnings from the Lagos State Structure Control Agency to evacuate the building, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has blamed Thursday’s building collapse on the occupants’ irresponsibility.
The four-storey building collapsed on Thursday, leaving several occupants trapped in the rubble.
A frantic search and rescue operation was conducted by LASEMA and other authorities, and all 10 trapped occupants were rescued and transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
In a post on his X.com account, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, confirmed the development.
He stated, “A four-storey building has collapsed at Iga Iduganran, Lagos Island. Lagos State Emergency Management Agency officials have rescued eight people from the rubble. They are battling to retrieve two others from the rubble. The structure had been marked by LASBCA for evacuation.”
Furthermore, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, has announced that, the building collapsed while renovations were being carried out on its structure after the LASBCA raised a red flag about its precarious condition.
Oke-Osanyintolu said, ”Investigation at the scene revealed that a four-storey building collapsed while a renovation was ongoing on the structure, which had been marked for evacuation because of its dilapidated state by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, but the occupants remained adamant.
“Seven adult males and three adult females have been rescued and transferred to the Iga-Iduganran Primary Health Centre by the agency’s paramedics for further medical attention.”
As of the time of filing this report, search and rescue operations had ended. However, “Rescue operations have stopped, but controlled demolition of the building to ground zero is ongoing.” Oke-Osanyintolu said,
This is the second building collapse that will occur within a few days in the state,
On May 26, Viewpoint Housing News reported that LASEMA blamed heavy overnight rainfall for the collapse of a two-storey building in the Surulere area of the state just a few days ago.
Although no life was lost in the tragedy, it was claimed that the collapsed structure had been in poor condition before the catastrophe.
