In what represents a tragedy of immense proportions, death and sorrow visited the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Ikotun Egbe, Lagos, South-West Nigeria, when a five-storey building under construction at famous church collapsed yesterday afternoon.

The building reportedly served as a guest house for people who trooped to the Synagogue from far-off places in search of miracles. Victims included foreigners, some kitchen staff and construction workers.

Reports put the death toll at about 70 but only 15 bodies had been recovered from the debris of the building as at last night, according to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Mr. Friday Adeboayo.

He disclosed that rescue operations were ongoing to evacuate injured and trapped persons.

It was not immediately clear why the building collapsed – around 1:00 p.m. local time – but

South-West Spokesman of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said the building was originally two-story before it was raised to five-five.

The Lagos State Building and Control Agency (LASBCA) said there was no evidence that the conversion was approved by the relevant authorities.

“The additional three was being constructed when it collapsed,” Farinloye was quoted as saying, adding:

“The church members have been very aggressive and tried attacking emergency responders.

“Before emergency responders’ arrival, about 15 are said to have being rescued alive and three dead.”

The Synagogue is owned by controversial televangelist and professed faith healer, Pastor Temitope Balogun Joshua, who is more popularly known as TB Joshua.

•Photo shows onlookers and rescue workers at the collapsed Synagogue Church building . . . last night in Lagos.