One dead, 19 injured in Gwarimpa, Abuja building collapse

One person has been confirmed dead and 19 others rescued from the rubbles of a three-storey shopping plaza building which collapsed on Thursday at 7th Avenue, Gwarimpa in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

It was reported that the structure under construction collapsed at about 10:18am at 4th Avenue close to H-Medix with many trapped.

The three-storey building which has a basement caved in on an unspecified number of workers.

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FCT-FEMA) is coordinating the response.

In an update Thursday evening, the agency confirmed more than a dozen have been evacuated.

“19 persons have so far been rescued, one dead,” said Nkechi Isa, the Public Relations Officer.

“The victims have been taken to Wuse, Gwarinpa, Asokoro district hospitals, and the Federal Medical Centre.”

Some construction companies with heavy duty equipment were part of the rescue efforts, Isa added.