10 die in Lagos collapsed building •More still trapped •6 killed in Sango Ota auto crash

Posted by admin Headlines Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

Nigerian Tribune gathered that almost all members of the three different families who resided in the No. 4 residence on the street were still trapped in the debris at press time.

However, the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) had since rescued the Secretary of Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Tajudeen Adeyemi, and his wife who were also trapped in the collapsed building.

It was learnt that many people were still trapped in the rubble late on Wednesday night.

According to a message from blackberry, which was passed round last night, those trapped had been making distress calls from under the rubble.

Investigation revealed that some of the rescued victims were taken to Lagos and Gbagada hospitals by the Lagos Mobile Ambulance officials, while the remains of the dead people were deposited at mortuaries for autopsy.

According to the councillor of Ward A3, Honourable Shewu Tijani Adisa Makanjuola, who witnessed the tragedy: “The building cracked and sank at exactly 11.30p.m. on Tuesday night and youths in our area commenced rescue operation, while we called the security to alert the state government which responded promptly.

“The quick response of LASEMA, the police, LASAMBUS, fire service officials, with the assistance of youths in the area saved the situation, because it could have been worse than this,” he said.

Some of the youth that were involved in the rescue operation disclosed that only people who lived on the fourth, third and some on the second floors could be rescued, while those on the first and ground floors were still trapped in the rubble.

Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager, LASEMA, Dr Oluwafemi Osanyintolu, said that the rescue operation was in top gear, adding that government would ensure that all trapped people were rescued.

“We are still here to make sure that we rescue all the people that had been trapped and take care of them immediately,” he said.

Commenting, the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Wale Ahmed, described the incident as a big tragedy and unwelcome development. He said: “In spite of the state government’s efforts directing residents to report defective buildings, the people have always refused to do so.”

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business District (CBD), Mrs Derin Disu, described the incident as another tragedy and regrettable, vowing that the state government would find drastic solution to incessant building collapse in the state.

“There is going to be drastic solution to the problem, even if it needs that some structures found to be weak would be pulled down, after the ongoing test being carried out by government agency in charge. Standard of living has to be improved in this area. We want to restore Lagos to the old glory. CBD areas have to be of international standard,” she remarked.

In another development, no fewer than six people were, on Wednesday morning, crushed to death and several others injured by a commercial bus whose driver lost control around Iyana Joju Bus Stop, in Sango Ota, Ogun State.

Some of the identified deceased of the early Wednesday incident in Sango were two commercial motorcyclists, a snacks vendor and a yet-to-be identified fresh graduate, who was waiting for a vehicle.

The Mazda bus involved in the accident reportedly had brake failure around Igbala Bus Stop, while the driver was on a top speed.

In order not to crash into vehicles, he swerved to the roadside and crashed into the motorcyclists and the hawker.

The bus was reportedly coming from Ifo and was heading towards Lagos when the incident happened, resulting in a commotion, as parents of wards at a nearby primary school in the area rushed to the scene to pick up their children.

When the Nigerian Tribune visited the scene, people were seen in groups lamenting and discussing the incident, while a portion of the road was soaked with blood of victims of the accident.

-Tribunewp_posts