Up to 100 missing in collapsed Nigerian high-rise | Inquirer News

Up to 100 missing in collapsed Nigerian high-rise

/ 07:10 AM November 02, 2021

People gather at the site of a collapsed 21-story building in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, November 1, 2021. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

People gather at the site of a collapsed 21-story building in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, November 1, 2021. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja

LAGOS — Up to 100 people were missing after a luxury residential high-rise under construction in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos collapsed on Monday, trapping construction workers under a pile of concrete rubble, witnesses said.

A body was retrieved and at least three survivors were pulled out on Monday night as rescue workers raced against the clock to dig up victims at the site in the affluent neighborhood of Ikoyi, where many blocks of flats are under construction.

Article continues after this advertisement

Workers told Reuters that possibly 100 people were at work when the building came crashing down.

FEATURED STORIES

Rescue workers used excavators to dig through rubble using generator-powered flood lights. The retrieved body was put in a waiting van while at least three people who were rescued were taken to nearby ambulances.

Building collapses are frequent in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, where regulations are poorly enforced and construction materials often substandard.

Article continues after this advertisement

There were heaps of rubble and twisted metal where the building once stood, as several workers looked on. One man wailed, saying his relative was among those trapped.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Lagos state government said the building had 22 floors and authorities were assessing whether there had been any damage to nearby buildings.

Article continues after this advertisement

The collapsed building was part of three towers being built by private developer Fourscore Homes. In a brochure for potential clients, the company promises to offer “a stress-free lifestyle, complete with a hotel flair”. The cheapest unit was selling for $1.2 million.

Calls to the numbers listed for Fourscore Homes and the main building contractor did not ring through.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

TAGS: Nigeria

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.