One person has been confirmed dead after today’s building collapse in Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja.
The structure collapsed at about 11am at 4th Avenue close to H-Medix with many trapped.
The three-storey building which has a basement caved in on an unspecified number of workers.
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FCT-FEMA) is coordinating the response.
In an update Thursday evening, the agency confirmed more than a dozen have been evacuated.
“19 persons have so far been rescued, 1 fatally injured,” said Nkechi Isa, the Public Relations Officer.
“The victims have been taken to Wuse, Gwarinpa, Asokorodistrict hospitals, and the Federal Medical Centre.”
Some construction companies with heavy duty equipment were part of the rescue efforts, Isa added
Similarly, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, who in a chat with newsmen said the command has made a necessary deployment to assist with the rescue of victims and the general safety of the area.
According to her, the FCT Commissioner of Police, SadiqAbubakar had personally visited the scene.
She said the CP during the visit, assured that officers of the command would provide all necessary support to ensure the ease of the rescue operations and to ensure hoodlums do not take advantage of the situation.
“The CP equally pledged the support of the command to aid the functions of Building Regulatory and Investigative Bodies within the FCT.
“He earlier described the situation as very unfortunate, called on the residents of the area to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious movement to relevant authorities particularly the police”, she added
Similarly, Head, Public Relations, Federal Housing Authority (FHA),Mr Kenneth noted that the collapsed structure is a commercial building belonging to a private developer, is situated along 6th Avenue in Gwarinpa, Abuja
“As at the time of collapse, the building was a frame structure with columns, suspended slabs in place, and some block works.
“Preliminary findings revealed that an approval for two floors was granted to the developer who decided to add an extra floor to the structure.
“Rescue efforts are currently going on to save lives, with responses from all relevant agencies. A total of four people have been rescued from the rubble at the time of this release,” Chigelu said.
The FHA spokesperson said ongoing investigations would reveal immediate and remote causes of the collapse.
The Gwarimpa Estate is a developed district, situated in Phase 3, in the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja. It is the largest single housing estate in Nigeria and in West Africa.
The mega housing estate consists of some of the most elegant architectural designs with good network of roads and expensive houses
