At least seven persons have been confirmed injured following the collapse of a two-storey building under construction in the Jikwoyi area of the Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC.

The Federal Capital Territory FCT Emergency Management Department FEMD, which led the initial rescue efforts, confirmed that the structural failure occurred at approximately 11:00 am on Friday while several labourers were active on the site.

According to the FEMD Search and Rescue Team, the collapse affected 17 workers who were stationed on the upper floor of the building at the time of the incident. While 16 managed to escape the immediate impact, five workers sustained varying degrees of injuries.

A more critical situation developed when a lone male worker stationed at ground level became trapped under the weight of the collapsed floors. Following intensive rescue operations, the trapped individual was successfully extricated from the rubble.

“The injured workers and the rescued trapped male have been taken to the Sisters of Nativity Hospital in Jikwoyi and are said to be responding to treatment,” the department stated in its situation report.

A multi-agency response team is currently on-site to manage the fallout of the collapse. This includes officials from the FCT Emergency Management Department, the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, the Department of Development Control, and the Engineering Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA. They are joined by personnel from the Nigeria Civil Defence, the Federal Fire Service, and the FCT Police Command to maintain order and provide technical support.

Despite the successful rescue of those identified, FEMD has ordered that operations continue until the site is cleared. “Excavation of the incident scene is still ongoing until ground zero to ensure that no person is trapped in the rubble,” the agency confirmed.

The cause of the collapse remains unknown, pending a formal investigation by the Department of Development Control and FCDA engineers. (Vanguard)