On Saturday morning, a tragic building collapse occurred in Kubwa, Abuja, leaving a trail of destruction and trapping several residents under debris. The two-story building, located at Plot C31, Sultan Dasuki Road, Kubwa, suddenly collapsed, prompting a swift response from emergency agencies.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud rumble around 7 am, with one survivor, Abdullahi Masud, recounting a harrowing experience. Masud fled the building naked after a neighbor alerted him to a cracked wall near the staircase just before the collapse. He later learned that others had also escaped, except for a lady who was initially stranded. His girlfriend was among those rescued and taken to the hospital.
Emergency responders from various agencies, including NEMA, FEMD, FCT Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, and Nigeria Police Force, collaborated in the rescue operation. The last person rescued, a corps member, was found unconscious.
Florence Dawon Wenegieme, acting Director General of FEMD, assured that search and rescue operations would continue until all affected areas were thoroughly examined and secured. While the cause of the collapse remains unknown, Wenegieme suspects that substandard building materials may have contributed to the tragic incident.
Rescue efforts continued, with responders working tirelessly to locate and extract those still trapped under the debris. The incident highlights the importance of prioritizing building safety and adhering to construction standards to prevent such devastating occurrences.
