Five-year-old boy dies in Lagos collapsed building as LASEMA evacuates others

Etim Ekpimah

One person has died in a building that partially collapsed at 19, Church Street, Lagos Island on Thursday.

It was learnt that the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA evacuated some residents from the building.

A statement signed by Head, Public Affairs, LASEMA, Nosa Okunbor, on Thursday, noted that swift response to distress calls by the LASEMA reporting the collapsing of the building, saved the lives of all residents there except one.

He said: “The single, yet-to-be identified fatality was lost due to a room beam that partially collapsed on a five-year-old boy when the incident occurred.

“The distress call which was transmitted at 10:55hrs today 8th July 2021 through the Toll Free 767/112 Emergency numbers activated the Lagos State Emergency Response Plans that saved the lives of other residents and properties surrounding the affected building earlier today.

“During his visit to the incident site on Lagos Island today, the LASEMA DG/CEO Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu stated that, “Situation Report on the Impending Collapsed Building at 19, Church Street, Lagos Island stated that Upon arrival at the scene, a room beam partially collapsed on a five-year-old boy at the address.

“Further investigation revealed that the building had been slated for non-integrity test because of visible cracks on the beam and columns of the building, all the tenants had been asked to evacuate the building and the building has been cordoned off for safety of residents.

“Unfortunately, an adolescent lost his life to the incident scene”.

He said, aside the Director General’s Team, and   LASEMA Response Team, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LABSCA and the Lagos State Safety Commission were also present at the scene to conduct proper assessment of the affected building and sensitisation. Operation concluded. Agency’s LRT heading back to base.