The Lagos State Emergency Agency has said that four persons died while five were rescued alive in the building collapse which occurred in the state on Saturday.
LASEMA’s Head of Public Affairs, Nosa Okunbor, made this known in a statement on Sunday titled, ‘Final Update on the collapsed four-floor building of Saturday, May 21, 2022, at 4 Alayaki Lane, Lagos Island’.
He said, “After several hours of intense overnight Search and Rescue Operation coordinated by the Permanent Secretary LASEMA, Dr Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, and combined efforts of three LASEMA Response Teams from Lekki, Cappa and the Alausa Command Control Center, a total of five adult males were rescued (alive) and taken to nearest hospitals for further treatment.
“However, four adult males were recovered (dead), bagged and handed over to officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, SEHMU to be processed further after being deposited at the mortuary.
National Infinity reports that the incident occurred Saturday afternoon.
It was learnt that the building was under construction before its collapse.
According to an eyewitness, the building collapsed after heavy rainfall at Freeman Road, Lagos Island.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Agency confirmed the collapse in a preliminary report titled, ‘ Situation report on collapsed four-floor building at 4 Alayaki Lane, Lagos Island on Saturday, 21st May, 2022’.
The report read, “The Agency responded to the above incident which was already in violation of building safety protocols.
“It was discovered that the building had been captured by the LASBCA District Office and served with all Statutory Notices, Sealed at District and Central Enforcement Level.
“Further investigation determined that the developer had continued clandestine operations mostly at night and at the weekends.
Lagos State has recorded three incidents of building collapse across the Yaba, Ebute-Metta and Okota areas, with 15 lives lost in recent months.
A 21-storey building on Gerard Road, Ikoyi collapsed on November 1, 2021. About 50 persons, including the developer, Femi Osibona, perished in the building collapse.
Also, on May 1, 2022, a three-storey building collapsed in the Ebute Metta area of the state leaving at least 10 persons dead.
After the collapse, the Lagos State Government ordered the immediate stoppage of approval for structures above three floors in Ebute-Metta East and West.
“The soil and topography, the low water level and effects, as well as the inability of structures in this area to bear loads above three floors, were considered in arriving at this decision,” Salako said.
“The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority has been directed to henceforth stop taking applications for approval above three floors in the area.
