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Tokunbo David, Lagos
Twin sisters identified as Taiye and Kehinde are among the casualties of a three-storey building collapse in Lagos Island Wednesday.
Emergency rescuers trawled through the wreckage of the disaster, trying to save those still trapped in the building which housed, among other uses, a nursery school.
At least five pupils are said to have died as a result of the collapse of the building located at 10 Dagara Street, Ita-faji, Lagos Island.
The incident occurred at around 10am Wednesday morning, according to eyewitnesses.
One witness, Abdulazeez Elegushi, said “a quit notice was given to the owner of the building by the government after it failed integrity test,” he told Daily Sun, speculating about the possible cause of the collapse.
With rescue and recovery operations continuing into the night, total death toll of victims and survivor count have not been finalised.
So far, according to a statement by National Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ibrahim Farinloye, eight people are dead, with 37 others rescued alive.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, following the developments from Abuja, tweeted his condolences and support for the victims of the disaster at about 6:50pm Wednesday evening, saying, “May God grant everyone affected by this sad incident fortitude and succor.”
I’m extremely saddened by the news of the collapsed building in Itafaaji area of Lagos. It touches one to lose precious lives in any kind of mishap, particularly those so young and tender. May God grant everyone affected by this sad incident fortitude and succour.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) March 13, 2019
He went on to “charge the Lagos State Government to do all that is needful, so that such tragic developments do not recur.”
I charge the Lagos State Government to do all that is needful, so that such tragic developments do not recur.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) March 13, 2019
