Ikoyi building collapse: 19 dead, six victims hospitalised, three discharged as rescue operation continues

The death toll in the Lagos building collapse has increased to nineteen as of 06:15pm.

No fewer than 19 persons have died as a result of a building collapse at Gerrard road, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

Also, the Lagos State Government said nine persons have been rescued.

Of the nine victims that were rescued, three have been discharged from the hospital while six others are admitted.

During his visitation, Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, promised that government will take full responsibility for the treatment and medical bills of rescued victims.

He said this during his visitation to some of the rescued victims of the Ill-fated incident who are on admission at the General Hospital, Lagos.

Hamzat, who spoke to pressmen after the visit, explained that nine people, all male, have so far been rescued from the debris of the building, adding that three of the rescued victims were treated and discharged on the spot while the remaining six are currently on admission receiving treatment at the Medical Emergency Unit of the General Hospital, Lagos.

While noting that the admitted victims are responding well to treatment and doing well, the Deputy Governor noted that the injuries sustained by those presently on admission are minor injuries.

He however mentioned that some casualties of the collapsed building who were brought into the hospital dead have been deposited at the morgue.

Nigerian Red Cross has called for a speedy response from rescue authorities at the scene of the building that collapsed in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

Chairman of Nigerian Red Cross, Lagos State branch, Adebola Kolawole, who was present at the scene on Tuesday stated that the rescue teams should be fast in recovering people from under the rubble.

For those that have been rescued from the collapsed building, Kolawole stated that they have been taken to an undisclosed General Hospital in Lagos.

Speaking on their chances of survival, the Red Cross boss stated that it is in the hands of God.

The Red Cross boss also stated that construction workers have not been allowed to join the rescue team because of the professionalism involved.

“We should allow the professionals to do their work,” she said.

The collapsed building, which is situated on Gerard Road, has gained attention after details of the circumstances surrounding the construction of the building emerged.

The exact number of people trapped in the rubble is still unknown.

He said, “So we have six people in here, all males, and thankfully they are doing well. The doctors have told us their state; they have minor injuries and nothing life-threatening thankfully. They are being treated and of course, as you know, the Lagos State Government is taking full responsibility for their treatment.

“We have their names and we will be getting in touch with their families. Nine people were rescued, six are here now, three people have gone home and as you know we have 10 dead bodies taken out of the place.”

Hamzat sympathised with victims, assuring them of adequate care during the course of their treatment.

Speaking in the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye who accompanied the Deputy Governor on the visit assured the rescued victims of quality and optimal health care service at the facility, stressing that trained medical personnel are on the ground to aid their recovery process.

Nigerian Institute of Architects, Lagos State chapter, called on the government and regulatory bodies to put strict building regulations in place, to avoid future building collapse.

Chairman of the chapter, David Majekodunmi, said this during his visit to the site of a building in the Ikoyi part of the state’s which collapsed on Monday.

Majekodunmi faulted the signage of the building construction, stating that if the regulatory bodies had done the needful, then the public would know who to blame for the mayhem.

According to him, the numbers on the construction signage shows that the same person is the consultant and the architect.

He said, “If the regulatory bodies had seen this signboard and done the needful, maybe we’d be able to know who we are accusing or who to hold responsible for this mayhem.”

The chairman said from his point of view, the collapse was an implosion, which could have been averted if regulatory bodies like the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria or Council of Registered Engineers had done the needful.

“This construction has been going on for two to three years. Ideally, if this has been going on and we have this signage, the regulatory body could have blown the whistle,” he said.

He added, “It has been on the social media that they got approval for 15 stories but they took it up to 21 stories, why? The regulatory body has every power, even if the government is silent, to blow it out.

“In doing so, we know that the regulatory body is doing well. They need to buckle up their belt and do the needful. Government need to do the needful and create more laboratory testing agencies for building materials.”