Fatal building collapse in Abuja: 2 Dead, 3 trapped, and 37 casualties in Garki

A tragic building collapse at Lagos Street in the Garki Village region of Abuja has left two individuals confirmed deceased, while three others remain trapped. In a swift response, thirty-seven people were successfully rescued from the wreckage of the building.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spokesperson, Nkechi Isa, officially confirmed the incident on an early Thursday briefing.

Isa stated, “Rescue operations are currently underway as our teams intensify their efforts to locate additional individuals affected by the building collapse on Lagos Street, Garki Village, right across from the Garki police station in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). A coordinated response involving the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), FCT Police Command, and the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) is engaged in the rescue mission.”

“The two-story building, serving both residential and commercial purposes, tragically collapsed during the night hours of Wednesday. Swift action led to the successful rescue of 37 individuals, while two suffered fatal injuries,” she added. Isa further emphasized that FEMA’s dedicated Search and Rescue unit is awaiting excavators to intensify their efforts, ensuring no victim remains trapped beneath the debris.

Notably, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), promptly visited the disaster site to oversee the ongoing operations and lend support to the affected individuals and their families.

This incident follows a similar occurrence last month when a four-story building collapsed in the Life Camp region of the city, resulting in numerous casualties. The collapse transpired during construction work near the Berger Clinic in the Dape Area. Sadly, building collapses are a recurring issue in some Nigerian urban centers, attributed to factors such as subpar workmanship, the use of low-quality materials, and corruption that bypasses official oversight.

Efforts are being amplified to address these recurring incidents and ensure better safety measures in the construction industry to safeguard both residents and workers.