One person is feared dead while several others remain trapped after a three-storey building under construction collapsed on Wednesday along Peter Odili Road, a highbrow area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The building reportedly caved in during construction, with eyewitnesses attributing the incident to possible structural defects, although the exact cause had yet to be officially determined as of press time.
Rescue workers have recovered the lifeless body of an unidentified victim from the rubble, while efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue others believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
Emergency response teams drawn from the Rivers State Government, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and other relevant agencies were deployed to the scene shortly after the incident.
A survivor identified simply as Taiwo disclosed that at least seven workers were trapped when the building suddenly gave way.
“This morning, I went out to buy something. About eight people were working inside, and they said some of them are Hausa people. One of my brothers was inside. Four of them were brought out, but other people are still trapped,” he said.
Officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning, the Ministry of Health, security agencies, and emergency responders were seen coordinating rescue efforts at the site.
Speaking at the scene, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health and Director of Medical Services, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said emergency teams were mobilised immediately after receiving reports of the collapse.
“We are here on Peter Odili Road following disturbing news this morning that a three-storey building collapsed around here. We quickly mobilised ambulance teams and medical personnel to support rescue operations,” he said.
According to him, two severely injured victims had already been rescued and transferred to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) for urgent medical attention.
“We have activated the Hospital Emergency Medical Services, and the Emergency Unit of RSUTH is fully prepared. NEMA, FRSC, NSCDC and other security agencies are all on ground. All hands are on deck to ensure those still trapped are rescued,” Wachukwu added.
Rescue operations were still ongoing at the time of filing this report as authorities worked to determine the number of victims and the cause of the collapse.
