By Olaitan Ibrahim
Panic swept through Ishaga Road in the Mushin area of Lagos on Sunday as a one-storey building under construction suddenly collapsed, leaving many feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident, which occurred opposite Idi Araba Central Mosque at about 3:40 p.m., sent shockwaves through the densely populated neighbourhood, as terrified residents and passersby rushed to the scene, desperately trying to save those buried alive.
Confirming the incident, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said, “We received distress alerts around 15:40 hours and immediately activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from our Cappa base.”
“Upon arrival at 15:56 hours, it was confirmed that a storey building undergoing construction had collapsed with several individuals trapped under the debris,” he stated.
So far, one person has been pulled out alive.
“One victim has been rescued alive. Thankfully, no fatalities have been recorded at the time of this report,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
The cause of the collapse remains unclear, but experts on site suggest possible structural failure, poor engineering practices, or substandard materials might be to blame.
“Investigations into the cause are ongoing,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.
He further disclosed that rescue operations are in full swing.
“Our teams are on ground with excavators and other heavy-duty equipment working tirelessly to clear the rubble. The area has been cordoned off for safety, and all relevant agencies are collaborating to ensure swift recovery,” he said.
In attendance at the scene are personnel from LASEMA, the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC).
Authorities have promised to provide updates as the situation develops.
This latest tragedy adds to the growing list of building collapses in Lagos, raising fresh concerns about enforcement of construction standards in the state.