A three-storey building under construction has collapsed in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, leaving an unknown number of construction workers trapped beneath the debris. The incident occurred on Wednesday behind Eternal Filling Station, opposite Chief Sam Ngbor Avenue, off Peter Odili Road, a busy area of the city.
Rescue Operations Underway
Witnesses reported that workers were present at the site when the structure suddenly gave way, prompting urgent calls for emergency intervention. Officials from relevant agencies arrived shortly after and began rescue efforts to locate and evacuate those trapped. The spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, ASP Blessing Kaborlo Agabe, confirmed that two people had been rescued and taken to hospital. She added that rescue operations were ongoing to determine if more persons remained trapped under the rubble.
Cause of Collapse Unknown
As of the time of this report, no deaths have been officially confirmed, and the cause of the collapse has not been determined. The Rivers State government has not released an official statement regarding the incident. Residents expressed concern over the number of workers believed to be inside the building when it collapsed and appealed for swift action.
Context of Building Safety Concerns
This collapse adds to ongoing concerns over building safety and compliance with construction standards in Nigeria. In a similar incident, a two-storey building collapsed at Modupeola Street, Mangoro bus stop, Alimosho, Lagos state, on September 24. According to a statement by Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, the cause of that incident, which occurred around 6pm, was not immediately known.
