Two Rescued from Three-Storey Building Collapse in Anambra
The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of two construction workers from the debris of a three-storey building that collapsed along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Awka.
The structure, located near the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) building and beside Diamond Pizza, opposite Five Star Restaurant, was in its roofing stage when it suddenly collapsed late Wednesday while construction workers were still on-site.
Witnesses at the scene said the building caved in without warning, prompting bystanders and passersby to initiate rescue efforts before the arrival of state emergency officials, including firefighters and representatives from the state’s materials testing department.
“We heard a series of thunderous sounds and rushed out to investigate, only to see the building crumbling to the ground,” a resident recounted. “The noise attracted passersby and commuters, who quickly joined in the rescue efforts.”
Although the exact cause of the collapse remains unknown, authorities have cordoned off the area as investigations continue.
Anambra State Police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed on Thursday that the two rescued workers were immediately taken to the hospital and are responding to treatment.
“We have rescued two workers from the rubble. Thankfully, no lives were lost, and the victims are recovering,” Ikenga said. “The site has been secured, and rescue operations are ongoing to ensure no one else is trapped.”
He also confirmed that both the site engineer and the building owner have been invited for questioning.
Officials from the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) have visited the site to assess the extent of the damage.
In a statement issued Thursday by its Managing Director, Ozo Ossy Onuko, the agency announced that a panel of inquiry has been set up to investigate both the immediate and underlying causes of the collapse.
“The ACTDA has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the statement read. “Further details will be communicated as they emerge.”
Authorities have assured the public that measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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