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The death toll from the collapse of a three-storey building in the Alakija area of Lagos State has risen to eight, while emergency responders have successfully rescued 26 people from the rubble. The tragic incident occurred on Thursday at a shopping complex located on Old Ojo Road near Alakija Bus Stop, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Satellite Town, triggering a massive multi-agency rescue operation.
Confirming the latest casualty figures, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed that as of 4:20 p.m., eight fatalities had been recorded, including a baby girl. He explained that rescue teams had continued to work tirelessly at the scene, deploying heavy-duty equipment, including excavators, to search for and extricate victims trapped beneath the debris. Authorities believe more occupants and shop owners may still be under the collapsed structure.
The building reportedly collapsed at about 11:37 a.m., prompting an immediate response from LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Navy, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society. Earlier in the operation, two victims were pulled out alive while emergency workers recovered the body of an adult male before the casualty figure increased as rescue efforts progressed.
The latest disaster has renewed concerns over building safety and regulatory compliance in Lagos, a city that has witnessed several deadly building collapses over the years. Officials have urged members of the public to stay away from the area to allow rescue workers unrestricted access to the site. Search-and-rescue operations remained ongoing as of the latest update, with authorities promising to provide further information as more victims are located and accounted for.
