Panic gripped Ishaga Road in the Mushin area of Lagos on Sunday after a one-storey building under construction suddenly collapsed, leaving several people feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:40 p.m. directly opposite the Idi Araba Central Mosque, sending shockwaves through the densely populated community.
Alarmed residents and bystanders rushed to the scene, attempting to rescue those buried in the debris.
Confirming the collapse, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, stated, “We received distress alerts at 15:40 hours and promptly activated the State’s Emergency Response Plan from our Cappa base.
“By 15:56 hours, our team had arrived and confirmed the collapse of a storey building under construction with multiple individuals reportedly trapped.”
So far, one person has been rescued alive, with no fatalities confirmed at the time of reporting.
“The good news is that one victim has been rescued alive, and there have been no reported deaths,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.
While the exact cause of the collapse remains undetermined, experts at the scene suspect structural failure, substandard materials, or poor engineering practices may be responsible. Investigations are currently underway.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency teams using excavators and other heavy machinery to clear the debris. The site has been secured, and all relevant agencies are working in coordination to ensure an effective rescue effort.
Personnel from LASEMA, the Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, LNSC, are actively involved in the operation.
