At least eight people lost their lives when a one-storey building collapsed in the Kuntau area of Gwale Local Government Area, Kano State.
The incident occurred on Friday while labourers were busy working on the construction site.
Sources from the area reported that at least 15 individuals, including the building owner, were trapped inside when the structure gave way.
The owner was constructing the new storey to attach to his existing home. It is believed that some of the people trapped inside were not workers but had sought shelter from the rain.
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Upon hearing the news, Sharu’s wife rushed to the site, crying for help. Neighbours and passersby quickly mobilised to rescue those trapped under the rubble.
Seven people were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital but tragically, one person died en route to the hospital. A staff member of the Kano Fire Service, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the building trapped 15 people, with seven fatalities reported so far.
Buses from the Kano State Fire Service, along with police personnel from the Dorayi Division, left the area around 7:30pm to ensure no one remained trapped in the building and as a precautionary measure.
Preliminary reports suggest that the collapse was due to the use of substandard building materials. Efforts to reach the Kano State Fire Service’s public relations officer were unsuccessful.
In a similar development, two persons were rescued alive from a collapsed building at Close 10, Drive 5, Second Gate at the Prince and Princess Estate at the Gudu District in the FCT.
Our correspondent reports that the collapsed building was a duplex under construction.
The acting Director General of FCT Emergency Management Department, Florence Dawon Wenegieme, said all the workers evacuated the building as soon as they saw signs that the building was going to collapse.
She, however, said two persons in the detached bungalow (BQ) behind the building became trapped under the rubble.
She said her men rescued the trapped occupants through the window protectors.
She urged the developers and individuals to adhere to building codes before carrying out renovations and as well carry out integrity tests on existing buildings before carrying out renovations .
Meanwhile, a building belonging to one Nicholas Ukachukwu at Praco Ltd Estate located at Plot 458 Guzape District Abuja has been demolished.
The FCT Administration, which ordered the demolition, said the building had some structural defects.
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