Many feared dead, 37 Rescued as two-storey building collapses in Abuja

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

A two-storey shopping plaza has collapsed in the Garki area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

It was gathered that the building, located around Lagos Street, caved in during a heavy downpour at around 11:50 p.m. on Wednesday.

Confirming the incident early hours of Thursday, August 24, Ikharo Attah, a former aide to the immediate past minister of the FCT, said 37 persons were rescued under the rubble.

Attah noted that rescue teams were trying to save more trapped persons.

He added that two badly injured persons, alongside the rescued, have been hospitalised.

“So far 37 persons have so far been evacuated to hospital, two fatally injured; others reportedly still trapped; rescue team and others are on the ground,” Attah wrote.

Rescue operations are on but slow due to ongoing rain. They are making frantic efforts at getting an excavator to remove people from the rubble.”