LAGOS ISLAND BUILDING COLLAPSE: VICTIMS IGNORED QUIT NOTICE BEFORE TRAGEDY – LASEMA
Read Time:1 Minute, 34 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
Several people were hospitalised on Thursday morning following the collapse of a residential building along Adeniji Adele Road in the Isale Eko area of Lagos Island.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) swiftly moved to the scene for rescue operations and traffic management.
A source within LASEMA, who requested anonymity, told PUNCH Metro that the collapsed building had long been identified as distressed and was marked for demolition by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
“The building is distressed and defused. It was marked by LASBCA long ago before it collapsed,” the official said. “Our findings also revealed that the tenants were served a quit notice, but they refused to vacate the premises.”
Another official added that there were no remaining persons trapped beneath the rubble, although excavation was ongoing. Due to the densely packed structures in the area, the use of heavy machinery had been delayed, prompting a shift to manual excavation methods.
“You know how Lagos Island houses are. That is why it is difficult to use our equipment, and we have resorted to manual excavation until it becomes safe to bring in the machines. But for now, there is no one trapped,” the source said.
In a public update, LASTMA confirmed that the victims initially trapped were rescued and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. It also noted that traffic in the area was being managed and redirected to prevent congestion.
“Our officials have diverted traffic from Zenith back through Oba’s Palace to make use of Enu Owa to their various destinations,” the agency stated on its verified X handle.
As of press time, the number of casualties has not been confirmed. Rescue and recovery efforts are still ongoing, and the site has been cordoned off for safety and investigation.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0