Lagos building collapse claims fifth life as death toll climbs

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the death toll in the building collapse at Arowojobe Estate in Maryland area of the state had risen to five person.

The agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed this in a statement made available.

He said the total number of death was now five adult males while the rescued persons were now five.

“The first three victims that were rescued were taken to the Gbagada General Hospital.

“The other two victims who were rescued were ferried to the Trauma Centre at Gbagada after being stabilised.

“In all, the five adult male victims who were recovered dead have been handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for further processing.

“A search and rescue operation is still ongoing to ground zero,” he said.

LASEMA had earlier received a distress call regarding a collapsed building at No 13 Wilson Mba Str., Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos, at about 3.49 a.m.

This prompted the immediate activation of the agency’s response team to the scene of the incident at 3.58 a.m. while operation is still ongoing.