February 02, (THEWILL) – At least two persons have been confirmed dead after a two-story building collapsed in the Gwarimpa Area of Abuja.
According to eyewitnesses, the uncompleted building collapsed around 12pm on 7th Avenue, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja, on Thursday.
The Director, FCT Department of Development Control, Murktar Galadima, who disclosed the incident to newsmen on Thursday, said emergency workers and security personnel have been deployed to rescue more persons.
Galadima, who noted that a rescue operation is ongoing with the combined team of several agencies, said seven persons have been rescued and taken to the hospital.
Of the seven persons pulled out, two were confirmed dead while five survived with varying degrees of injury.
“We have been here for over two hours. We are still rescuing people. We have removed about five people alive and two dead victims. But many people are still calling their relatives from under the rubble.
“Rescue operation is currently ongoing at 2:41 pm. Over seven people have been rescued with two not looking stable, five in stable condition, and two others waiting for medical confirmation. The location is in Gwarinpa close to H-Medix, around Charlie boy 7th Avenue.”
A resident in the area, John Edwin, said workers on the site, especially labourers conveying blocks to the top, were over 40.
He said he has been living in the area for many years and has always known the place to be a reserved green area.
Edwin urged relevant authorities to question the management of the Federal Housing Authority for illegally allocating a green area for a commercial complex.
The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council ( AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, assured that an investigation will commence immediately, to ascertain both the remote and immediate causes of the collapse.
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