Lagos Building Collapse: Eight Dead, 26 Pulled Alive From Rubble as Rescue Mission Intensifies.

Lagos Building Collapse: Eight Dead, 26 Pulled Alive From Rubble as Rescue Mission Intensifies.

At least eight people, including a baby girl, have been confirmed dead after a three-storey shopping complex collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos State on Thursday, leaving emergency workers racing against time to rescue more victims feared trapped beneath the debris.

The tragic incident occurred at about 11:37 a.m. on Old Ojo Road, near Alakija Bus Stop, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Satellite Town.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that 26 people had been rescued alive as rescue operations continued at the scene.

In a statement issued by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the latest update showed that emergency responders had recovered eight bodies from the collapsed structure as of 4:20 p.m.

“Twenty-six persons have been rescued alive, while eight fatalities have been recorded, including a baby girl,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

He added that the search-and-rescue mission remained active, with officials working to locate and evacuate more people who may still be trapped under the rubble.

The collapsed building was said to be a three-storey shopping complex located within the Ori-Ade Local Council Development Area.

The incident immediately triggered a major emergency response, as personnel from several agencies were deployed to the area to rescue survivors and recover victims.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency activated its response team shortly after receiving reports of the collapse.

“LASEMA has activated its emergency response following the collapse of a three-storey shopping complex at Alakija, Ori-Ade LCDA,” he said.

“A multi-agency rescue operation is ongoing, with responders working systematically to search for and extricate anyone trapped beneath the rubble.”

Earlier in the operation, two victims were pulled out alive through the combined efforts of LASEMA, the Lagos State Building Control Agency and the China Road and Bridge Corporation Construction Company.

“Two victims have been rescued alive through the joint efforts of LASEMA, LASBCA and CRCC Construction Company,” the permanent secretary stated.

He also confirmed that an adult male was among the first bodies recovered from the site.

“One deceased adult male has been located. Recovery efforts are ongoing,” he said.

Authorities fear that more victims may still be buried beneath the wreckage, as reports indicated that shop owners and other occupants had resumed business in the complex before it came crashing down.

“There are reports that additional persons, including shop owners who had resumed business, may still be trapped,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

To speed up the operation, heavy-duty machinery, including an excavator, was deployed to carefully remove sections of the collapsed structure while rescue teams searched for survivors.

The coordinated operation involves the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Navy, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.

Residents and passers-by have been urged to stay away from the scene to allow emergency responders unrestricted access as the rescue mission continues.

“Members of the public are advised to remain calm, avoid the incident scene, and allow emergency responders unrestricted access to carry out life-saving operations,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

Rescue operations were still ongoing as of the time of filing this report, with authorities expected to provide further updates on the number of survivors, casualties and possible causes of the collapse.