Key Points
• One person dies after a two storey building partially collapses during manual demolition in Aboru, Lagos.
• Two other workers are rescued alive from beneath the rubble.
• LASEMA urges compliance with building regulations and use of certified professionals for demolition work.
Main Story
One person has died after a two storey building undergoing manual demolition partially collapsed in Aboru, Lagos.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke Osanyintolu.
The incident occurred at about midnight at No. 42, Governors Road, Aboru, in Alimosho Local Government Area.
Oke Osanyintolu said LASEMA’s Alpha Eagle Response Team was dispatched from its Cappa, Oshodi Response Unit at 12:56 a.m. following a distress call.
The team found workers trapped beneath the rubble and immediately activated the state’s Emergency Response Plan to coordinate the rescue operation.
Two adult males were successfully pulled out alive from the debris and received first aid from personnel of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).
The rescued victims were later taken to a nearby health facility for further treatment.
An adult male was also recovered dead from beneath the collapsed structure.
Oke Osanyintolu said the rescue operation was being jointly conducted by LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and LASAMBUS.
The agency also cordoned off the scene to protect residents and give emergency personnel unhindered access to the affected area.
The Issues
LASEMA said preliminary findings indicated that the building was being manually demolished when the collapse occurred.
The incident highlights the risks associated with demolition and construction activities when proper safety requirements are not followed.
The agency urged developers and residents to comply with building regulations and engage certified professionals for demolition and construction work.
What’s Being Said
“Preliminary findings indicate that the building was being manually demolished when the collapse occurred.” – Olufemi Oke Osanyintolu
What’s Next
Community leaders and security agencies are working with emergency responders at the scene as the rescue and recovery operation continues.
LASEMA urged residents to report suspicious or unsafe building activities through the 767 and 112 emergency numbers.
Oke Osanyintolu said the state would continue strengthening emergency response through capacity building, equipment and decentralisation of response units, with the aim of achieving a 10 minute emergency response time across Lagos.
Bottom Line
One person died and two others were rescued after a two storey building partially collapsed during manual demolition in Aboru, Lagos. LASEMA has urged residents and developers to comply with safety regulations and use certified professionals for demolition work.
