Five confirmed Dead In Lagos Building Collapse As Rescue Operations Continue

Five people have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a three-storey building in the Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State on Saturday.

The structure, which housed the well-known Equal Right Restaurant, crumbled around 8 a.m., trapping occupants and bystanders beneath the rubble.

Initial reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) indicated one fatality during rescue efforts on Saturday.

However, by Sunday morning, the agency revised the death toll to five. According to a statement from Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, all five deceased adults have been recovered and transferred to the morgue.

The number of rescued individuals remains at 13, with survivors currently receiving pre-hospital treatment. “All first responders remain on the scene to continue search and rescue operations. Further updates to follow,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

Reports earlier indicated that the building was undergoing construction work at the time of the collapse. Eyewitnesses corroborated this, noting that the site had visible ongoing renovations or structural modifications when the incident occurred.

Emergency teams from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), LASEMA, and other agencies swiftly mobilized to the scene after receiving a distress call at 8:32 a.m.

NEMA confirmed the early casualty figures in a preliminary report, stating that twelve individuals had been rescued with one fatality initially recorded. Search and recovery efforts are still ongoing at the site.