Abuja building collapse: Three killed, several injured

No fewer than three persons have been confirmed dead and 21 others rescued from a building that collapsed in the Gwarinpa area of Abuja on Wednesday.

The building, which was under construction along 7th Avenue in the Gwarinpa area of Abuja, collapsed around 11am on Thursday.

A construction worker, Samuel Keror, said the building was raised within six months.

Another eyewitness, John Edwin, who lives in the area, said workers on the site, especially labourers conveying blocks to the top, were over 40.

He claimed to have lived in the area for many years and had always known the place to be a reserved green area.

Edwin urged relevant authorities to question the Federal Housing Authority for allegedly allocating green areas to commercial ventures.

The Director, Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Muktar Galadima, said rescue operation was ongoing.

PUNCH Metro gathered that some of the survivors were rushed to the General Hospital, Kubwa, while others were rushed to the General Hospital, Lifecamp.

Galadima said many workers were still trapped under the rubbles.

The FCT Director of Monitoring, Inspection and Evaluation, Attah Ikharo, said two persons had been confirmed dead.

He said, “As of 9pm on Thursday, 24 have been rescued alive and two dead.”

The Director-General of the FCT Federal Emergency Management Authority, Abass Idriss, told PUNCH Metro around past 9pm that three people were confirmed dead and 21 rescued.

“We are still at the site as rescue operation is ongoing,” he added.

The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Umar Shuaibu, said investigation would reveal both the remote and immediate causes of the incident. Punch