Many feared dead as storey building collapses in Jos

Two corpses were evacuated and one injured from a storey building that collapsed on Monday evening in Jos, Plateau state, trapping family members and labourers, residents said.

The incident, Daily Trust gathered, occurred around 4pm at Butcher lane in Jos North local government area while labourers were trying to patch cracks from the storey building.

As at the time our correspondent visited the scene, hundreds of youths were digging through the rubble using bare hands and small tools as they search for more survivors.

Residents say the building belonged to popular Jos businessman who owns pharmacy outlets in the city, Alhaji Rufai Nalele.

Nalele was said to be out when the incident occurred but his wife, kids, employees and labourers are feared trapped.

“The building was constructed about five years ago using substandard materials, everyone knew there was something wrong with the building,” said Ibrahim Kasim who lives within the neighbourhood.

Kasim said there was a pharmacy at the ground floor of the building with many employees trapped.