At least five persons have been confirmed dead, while 10 others were rescued alive after a three-storey building under construction collapsed on Saturday morning in the Durumi 3 area near Gudu Market in Abuja.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration confirmed the incident in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Mr Lere Olayinka.
According to the statement, emergency responders are still carrying out rescue operations at the site amid fears that more victims may remain trapped beneath the rubble.
“At least five persons have been confirmed dead while 10 others were rescued alive after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Durumi 3 area, near Gudu Market, Abuja, on Saturday morning.
“Rescue operations still ongoing as emergency responders continue efforts to evacuate more victims believed to be trapped beneath the rubble at the construction site located around Gaduwa Estate in the Gudu district.”
The statement further disclosed that the FCT Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, visited the scene and conveyed the minister’s directive for immediate medical intervention for all victims.
Dr Fasawe said the minister, Nyesom Wike, “has directed that all casualties be given free medical treatment,” adding that emergency response measures had been fully activated to address the situation.
She also stated that rescue and medical personnel were operating under challenging conditions as efforts continued to search through the debris of the collapsed building.
Officials of the Federal Fire Service, security agencies, health workers, and local volunteers were seen at the scene working through the rubble, while worried residents gathered nearby awaiting updates on the rescue operation.
