One dead, several trapped as four-storey building collapses in Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt Building Collapse Traps Several Under Rubble
A four-storey building under construction in the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State collapsed Wednesday morning, leaving multiple people trapped underneath the debris.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another building collapse just 48 hours earlier, involving a three-storey structure at the Rumuolumeni axis of Port Harcourt.
Eyewitness reports indicate that at least seven individuals may be trapped in the collapsed building. Local residents managed to rescue two victims shortly after the incident. An onlooker described seeing one trapped victim’s head above the rubble, who was reportedly shouting in distress.
Among those trapped is the site engineer overseeing the construction project. A body has also been retrieved from the collapse.
Emergency response teams, including security personnel and rescue agencies, quickly mobilized to the scene. Prominent figures present included Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju, Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning Amairigha Edward Hart, and representatives from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Fire Service, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
Oladimeji Taiwo, a carpenter involved in the construction, stated that the site engineer had cautioned workers about the building’s instability just minutes before it collapsed. Taiwo, who narrowly escaped the incident, had noticed cracks in the walls prior to the structural failure.
He estimated that between eight and ten people were trapped inside the building at the time of the collapse. “I have spent six months in this place. All I have is inside here with my phone. I just want to appeal for help for me and my colleagues,” he said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, three individuals had been rescued, and authorities continue their efforts to locate and assist others who remain trapped.
