The death toll from the collapsed two-storey building at Alakija Bus Stop, Satellite Town in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State has risen to nine, following the conclusion of search, rescue and recovery operations by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
According to LASEMA, 27 persons were rescued alive from the wreckage through the coordinated efforts of its response teams, and other agencies and members of the community.
The Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed this on Friday through a statement made available by the agency’s spokesperson, Afolabi Olawale.
The building came down at about 11:47 p.m. yesterday, triggering a major emergency response from state and federal agencies, who raced to the scene to rescue trapped victims and recover the dead.
The injured victims received immediate pre-hospital care from LASAMBUS before being transferred to nearby hospitals for further treatment.
LASEMA confirmed that nine fatalities were recovered in all, including four adults who were already dead before responders arrived, as well as five additional victims, among them a two-year-old baby girl.
The remains of the deceased were carefully bagged and handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for identification and release to their families.
The agency said the operation was carried out by its Sharks Response Team from the Lekki base and Alpha Cobra Squad from Onipanu, who arrived at the scene within 40 minutes of the distress call.
They were joined by personnel of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASAMBUS, LASTMA, LNSC, FRSC, LASBCA, the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Red Cross and CCECC in a large-scale rescue effort.
LASEMA said its Director of Operations, Engr. Olanrewaju Akinsanya, and Cappa Base Coordinator, Engr. Salami, led the operation on ground, while a heavy-duty excavator belonging to the agency was deployed to support two excavators already provided by CCECC.
The machinery, according to the agency, helped responders reach trapped victims faster and push the operation down to ground zero.
The Commissioner for the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations and the Permanent Secretary also provided strategic oversight throughout the rescue and recovery mission.
The rescue operation was suspended at 4:00 a.m. on Friday after responders reached ground zero and confirmed that no further victims remained under the rubble.