At least two people have been confirmed dead and three others injured following the collapse of a three-storey building in Amaokpala, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ms Ndidi Omega, confirmed the casualties in an interview in Awka on Monday after rescue operations ended for the day.
The collapsed building, located in Amaokpala, a neighbouring community to Oko, served as an off-campus residence for students of the Federal Polytechnic Oko and other tenants.
Omega said the injured victims were receiving treatment at a hospital, adding that search and rescue operations would resume on Tuesday.
“The rescue operation will continue tomorrow, but at the end of today’s activities, two persons have been confirmed dead while three others sustained injuries,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government has sealed off the premises and launched a manhunt for the owner and manager of the building.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Chijioke Ojukwu, told NAN that the government would also begin integrity tests on buildings in the area to prevent similar incidents.
According to Ojukwu, preliminary investigations revealed signs of structural failure before the collapse, but the building owner allegedly failed to take corrective action.
“Our preliminary findings indicate that there were structural activities in the building suggesting failure. Instead of addressing them, the owner placed financial interest above the lives and safety of the occupants,” he said.
He added that the government would keep the property sealed pending the conclusion of investigations into the incident.
Ojukwu also said the state government would soon announce its official position and further measures regarding the building collapse.
source:NAN
