4 killed in Lagos collapsed building

FOUR people, including a 13-year-old bread hawker, were, early Sunday, killed as a two-storey building, still under construction, collapsed in Surulere area of Lagos State

It was gathered that construction works on the building, situated at 29, Ishaga Road, Surulere, continued despite warnings from the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

Three others were rescued with two of them taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit, while the other victim, said to be critically injured, was taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), where he was expected to undergo surgical operation.

Newsmen gathered that most of the victims were construction workers.

The deceased 13-year-old girl had reportedly stopped for the early morning rain, when she was caught up in the incident.

The workers involved in the incident, it was gathered, had wanted to stay in the site till work resumes today, so as to save transportation cost.

The body of the girl was, around 2.30 p.m, recovered by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and volunteers, who were residents and workers around the area.

It was gathered that the building collapsed around 9.30 a.m, a few hours after the early morning rain.

A resident of the area, who simply preferred to be called Smith, while speaking with the Newsmen said the collapsed building might not be unconnected with the effect of the rain.

The spokesperson of NEMA, South-West, Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed that four people died in the building, while three others who were rescued had been taken to hospital for treatment.