Emergency responders have recovered five dead bodies and rescued 15 others alive at the rubble of a three-storey building that collapsed at Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos.
Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the figures on Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Lagos.
Farinloye said the five recovered bodies included two adult males and three females, while those rescued alive included six adult females and nine adult males.
The rescue operation is still ongoing.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, had disclosed thet the incident happened around 09.45 hrs. on Saturday, April 19.
“Following distress alerts at 09.45 hrs, LASEMA activated the Emergency Response Plans from Command and Control Centre, Alausa and Onipanu.
“Upon arrival at the incident scene by 09.52hrs, it was discovered that a three-storey building housing a restaurant and bar had collapsed, with several victims trapped under the debris at the aforementioned location.”
He said that, as at then, eight victims were rescued and no deaths recorded.
“One of the rescued victims attended to by the LASEMA Pre-Hospital Care Unit has been transported to the hospital for further medical attention.”
He said the cause of the collapsed building was yet to be ascertained.
He added that LASEMA response teams commenced search and rescue efforts immediately on arrival.
“Safety measures were activated with the operational area cordoned off at the incident scene and update to follow,” he said.
The search is being handled collaboratively by LASEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency, the Lagos State Fire and Ambulance Services, as well as the Public Works Corporation.
Oke-Osayintolu at the scene of the collapsed building, praised the swift action of the first responders and also commended the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for maintaining security in the densely populated neighborhood.
Among those caught in the debris was a family believed to be inside their vehicle, which was parked near the popular restaurant and bar that occupied the ground floor of the building.
By Fabian Ekeruche, Olaitan Idris and Lydia Chigozie-Ngwakwe