A building collapses in Nigeria

A two-storey building that was still under construction and housing traders and shop owners collapsed at the Eke Amawbia market in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Thursday.

Although the exact casualty figure hasn’t been officially ascertained, it’s feared that lives may have been lost, and many people are trapped under the rubble. Eyewitnesses reported that the incident occurred around noon, creating panic among traders and residents in the area.

As of now, one person has been rescued and taken to the Amawbia Maternity Home for urgent medical attention, but there are likely more people trapped inside the wreckage. Some police officers are on the scene to coordinate rescue efforts and maintain order. Traders who witnessed the collapse blame it on substandard engineering work, alleging that the building’s structural integrity had been compromised. Others attribute the collapse to the persistent rainfall in the area since last week.

The state police command has confirmed the incident and stated that rescue operations are ongoing1. The situation has caused panic in the community, with many calling for an investigation into the cause of the collapse.