A tragic incident unfolded early on Thursday morning as a two-storey building situated at number 34 Oloto Street, Borno Way, off Freeman Street, Oyingbo, in Lagos collapsed, claiming the life of an elderly woman reported to be in her 80s.
The unidentified woman gave up the ghost immediately the structure collapsed on her around 7:45 am on Thursday.
Following the distress call, responders and concerned citizens swiftly gathered at the scene to provide assistance and address the situation.
Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), confirmed the fatality, noting no additional injuries in the tragic incident.
“LASEMA received distress calls at approximately 8:30am, and our response team arrived promptly at 8:42 am,” Oke-Osanyitolu said.
“Upon arrival, we discovered a partial collapse of a storey building, caused by the collapse of an internal suspended beam within a room due to the structure’s aging and lack of maintenance.”
“Regrettably, an elderly woman lost her life due to the partial collapse,” he added.
As of the latest update at 10 am, a joint search and rescue operation is underway at the scene, which has been cordoned off for safety measures.
Emergency response units, including the LASEMA Response Team, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, paramedics, and the Lagos Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), are actively engaged to ensure safety and maintain order.
“The affected area has been cordoned off, and we have alerted LABCA (Lagos State Building Control Agency) for further necessary actions,” Oke-Osanyitolu emphasized.
