A three-storey building has collapsed on the Lagos Island area of Lagos State on Saturday, claiming at least two lives.
The building located at 4, Alayaki Lane in the area was said to be under construction came down after the heavy rainfall in the afternoon.
READ ALSO: 3 storey building collapses in Lagos killing 8
Confirming the number of survivors, Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said in a statement that two persons have been rescued alive while some are still trapped under the rubble.
“The Agency responded to the above incident which was already in violation of building safety protocols,” he said.
“It was discovered that the building had been captured by the LASBCA District Office and served with all Statutory Notices, Sealed at District and Central Enforcement Level.
“Further investigation determined that the developer had continued clandestine operations mostly at night and at the weekends.
“An unconfirmed number of people are still trapped inside the building. Two people have been rescued alive while another was recovered dead. Search and Rescue operations ongoing. Further updates to follow.”
Saturday’s building collapse will be the fourth in the state this year, three were recorded across the Yaba, Ebute-Metta and Okota areas, with 15 lives lost in recent months.
The last incident was on May 1, 2022, where a three-storey building collapsed in the Ebute Metta area of the state leaving at least 10 persons dead .
After the collapse, the Lagos State Government ordered the immediate stoppage of approval for structures above three floors in Ebute-Metta East and West.
“The soil and topography, the low water level and effects, as well as the inability of structures in this area to bear loads above three floors, were considered in arriving at this decision,” Salako said.
“The Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority has been directed to henceforth stop taking applications for approval above three floors in the area.
“To guarantee the safety of lives and property by ensuring that we put a halt to lives being cut short by incidents of building collapse, the government has been compelled to invoke the relevant sections of the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2019, as amended, to address the crisis,” Lagos Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, had said in a statement on Wednesday, May 11.
Recall last November, the state recorded the worst building collapse in human casualty claiming about 50 lives – the 21-storey building on Gerard Road, Ikoyi on November 1, 2021 making it more than 60 lives lost in less than a year in the state as a result of building collapse.
