Death toll in Ikoyi building collapse rises to 15

The death toll in the 21-storey sky scrapper building that collapsed in Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday rose to 15 as of 1.16 pm on Tuesday.

So far, nine people have been rescued alive according to the head of the National Emergency Management Agency in Lagos, Mr Farinloye.

Rescue operations had continued at the property located at 44 Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, despite the heavy rains and windstorms on Monday night.

Scores of artisans brought in from across the country are feared trapped underneath the rubble of the building that collapsed around 1:56 pm on Monday.

Although it was widely reported that the building had approval for 15-story but was later converted to a 21-storey-building, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Femi Hamzat, who visited the scene on Monday, said the approval was given for a 21-story building three years ago.

He said the state government sealed the site for four months and that regular supervision was a continuous exercise on the site before it collapsed.