Two Dead, 14 Rescued as Three-Storey Building Under Construction Collapses in Lekki, Lagos, Triggering Major Emergency Response, Search and Rescue Operations, and Investigation into Possible Structural Failures
Tragedy struck in the Lekki area of Lagos on Wednesday as a three-storey building with a penthouse under construction collapsed on Oriwu Street, killing two people and leaving several others injured.
Emergency responders recovered the bodies of two victims from the rubble at around 7:45 p.m., while 14 others were pulled out alive and taken to the Lagos Island General Hospital for treatment. However, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) reported that only six people were rescued.
The victims were construction workers at the site, located at House 29, Oriwu Street. The cause of the collapse remains unknown, but reports indicate that the structure caved in at about 4 p.m.
Confirming the incident, the spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated that police operatives were swiftly mobilized to the scene to assist in the rescue efforts and maintain security.
“Two persons died. A total of 14 persons have so far been rescued and taken to Lagos Island General Hospital for treatment. Operatives of the command remain on the ground to provide security for the ongoing rescue operation,” Hundeyin said.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, explained that the agency received distress calls through the 767/112 emergency toll-free lines and immediately activated its emergency response teams from Lekki and Cappa bases.
“Upon arrival at the incident scene, LASEMA’s Shark and Eagle Response Teams discovered that a three-storey building under construction had collapsed. The immediate cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.
He added that LASEMA teams had initiated search and rescue operations, deploying heavy-duty equipment such as excavators to clear the debris and locate any remaining victims. Six seriously injured workers were given immediate medical attention before being transported to Marina General Hospital.
The rescue operation was carried out by a joint team comprising the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.
Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious around construction sites, while investigations are expected to determine the cause of the collapse and whether the building complied with safety regulations. The search and rescue operation remains ongoing.
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