Two-Storey Building Collapse Traps Residents in Lagos

By Tgnews Reporter

A devastating collapse of a two-storey building in the heart of Oyingbo, Lagos, has left the city reeling, with multiple people trapped under rubble and emergency teams racing against time to save lives.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday at No. 54, Cole Street, near Cemetery Bus Stop by UBA Bank, has sparked renewed concerns about the safety of distressed structures in Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital.

According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), a distress call was received at 00:20 hours, prompting a swift response from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station. Rescue teams arrived at the scene by 00:29 hours, launching a frantic operation to free those trapped beneath the debris.

Margaret Adeseye, Controller General of the LSFRS, confirmed that 15 individuals have been pulled from the wreckage so far, including seven adult males, four adult females, and four children.

All rescued victims, who sustained varying degrees of injury, were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Ebute Meta and the General Hospital in Odan, Lagos Island, for urgent medical care.

Preliminary investigations point to a grim reality: the collapsed building had previously been flagged as distressed, yet it remained occupied.

The cause of the collapse is still under investigation, but the incident underscores the persistent challenge of enforcing building safety regulations in Lagos, where rapid urbanization often outpaces oversight.

As rescue operations continue, emergency responders are working tirelessly to locate additional survivors feared trapped beneath the rubble. Adeseye assured the public that the LSFRS, in collaboration with other agencies, is fully committed to the operation.

“We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure every individual is accounted for,” she said.

The collapse has sent shockwaves through the Oyingbo community, with residents and onlookers gathering at the scene, anxiously awaiting updates. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stricter building inspections and enforcement to prevent such disasters in the future.