UPDATE: Death Toll In Lekki Collapsed Building Now 10

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Tuesday, March 8th, 2016

By Ayo Balogun, Lagos

LAGOS, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Death toll has risen to 10 in the 5-storey building which collapsed in Lekki area of Lagos, Nigeria this morning.

Also, the number of those rescued is now 10 while rescue operation is still going on as at 4:21pm on Tuesday.

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Michael Akindele, said the death toll has risen from the initial five reported in the morning to 10 as at the time of filing this report.

Akindele stated that the 10 fortunate ones who escaped death had been taken to the hospital for treatment by the Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS while the deceased were being packed by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, SEHMU to be taken to the mortuary.

According to him, three excavators and other search and rescue equipment are being used in the rescue.

The 5-storey building collapsed in Lekki area of Lagos, Nigeria at the early hours of Tuesday. The building collapsed at the Lekki Garden Estate Horizon, Ikate Elegunshi at around 6.am when the heavy downpour was still on.

Many people are believed to still be trapped in the debris of the collapse as rescue operation continues.

According to Akindele, rescue operators at the scene include officers of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Lagos State Fire Services, Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS, Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Civil Defence, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Navy and the Nigeria police.