The building collapse occurred on Thursday, with search and rescue operations still ongoing.
The death toll from the two-storey building collapse at Arowojobe Estate in the Maryland area of Lagos State has risen to five, as confirmed by Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
The building collapse occurred on Thursday, with search and rescue operations still ongoing.
There have been previous building collapses in Lagos, including a 2021 incident where a 21-storey building under construction collapsed, resulting in at least 42 fatalities.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that three persons had been confirmed dead following the building collapse which occurred at No. 13, Wilson Mba St., Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos, in the early hours of Thursday.
Oke-Osanyintolu had said that three males who were recovered dead at the building were site workers.
In an update on the incident, Oke-Osanyintolu said that by initial response early Thursday morning at about 3:40 a.m., LASEMA and other responders rescued three victims.
Oke-Osanyintolu said that during the search and rescue operation, two more male adults were rescued and stabilised before being transferred to the hospital.
“The first 3 victims that were rescued were taken to Gbagada General Hospital. The other 2 victims that were rescued were ferried to the Trauma Center at Gbagada after being stabilised.
“In all, the four adult Male victims that were recovered dead, have been handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), for further processing.
“Search and Rescue Operation is still ongoing to Ground Zero,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
Oke-Osanyintolu added that an “additional male fatality has just been recovered”.
“Total number of dead is now five adult males. Total number of rescued is five,” he said.
It was gathered that a set of three terraces under construction had collapsed.
Earlier, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said it was alerted at 01:55hrs today (Thursday), to the collapsed building.
Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, said, “Upon receiving the call, the Ilupeju Rescue Team was immediately dispatched to the scene.
“Eight people have been rescued so far. Five people were rescued alive and have been transported to the hospital for medical treatment. Sadly, three individuals have been recovered deceased.
“Search and rescue operations are actively ongoing.
“Further updates will be provided as the rescue operations continue. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic event.”
