Lagos Building Collapse: Five People Have Died While Search Continues

Five people have already died as a result of the Lagos building collapse, emergency personnel told Channels Television on Monday.
A seven-story building on Oba Idowu, Oniru Street in the state’s Victoria Island region fell on Sunday.
Emergency personnel and security personnel have already arrived at the scene to rescue the victims who are trapped even though the immediate cause of the collapse is still unclear.
As of yesterday, two bodies had been found during rescue efforts. Three other bodies were removed from the scene in less than a day, though.
Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the permanent secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), revealed to Channels Television on Monday that more bodies had been found since Sunday.
Oke-Osanyintolu said in a statement on Monday that for the previous 24 hours, the agency had been closely coordinating with first responders and other officials.

“The Agency alongside other first responders has been working for over 24 hours at the above 7-storey building which collapsed yesterday,” he said in an update on the collapsed building.
“Another three bodies have been extricated from the rubble bringing the fatalities to five. The painstaking process is ongoing. Further updates to follow.”
The developer and other construction workers on the collapsed seven-story building in the state’s Victoria Island neighborhood have been ordered to be detained by the Lagos State Government.
Dr. Idris Salako, the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, issued the directive during his Sunday visit to the location. The commissioner claims that the developer and other experts broke the state’s planning laws.
“There must be a valid Planning Permit from the aforementioned agency, in addition to a letter of Authorisation, Stage inspection at every milestone and certification by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), to ensure that construction works were carried out in conformity with the approval granted,” he added according to a statement issued by the ministry on Sunday.
“Disclosing that investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the building collapse, Salako said the Police are on the trail of the developer and all professionals involved in the project such as architects, builders, and engineers,” the statement noted.
“The Commissioner expressed concern at the level of disregard for the law in the built sector, affirming that the State Government will restore sanity and orderliness to the sector because it has zero tolerance for building collapse.
“He enjoined Lagosians to join hands with the State Government in maintaining vigilance in the built environment by reporting any untoward developments in their vicinity, through any of the Ministry or State Government communication channels, particularly the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPP&UD App) and the Lagos State Building Control Agency.”

GOGAN Media.