No fewer than two separate buildings have collapsed in different cities of Anambra State within a space of 24 hours, with one person confirmed dead so far, while yet-to-be identified number of persons sustained different degrees of injuries.
While the first incident occured early Wednesday morning in the quiet neighbourhood of Akpaka GRA Phase II, Onitsha, in Onitsha North Local Government Area, along Prince Chinedu Akwuaka Street; the second incident occured behind the Anambra State House of Assembly, off Ekwueme Square, Okpuno, Awka, the state capital.
It was gathered that the first incident involved a two-storey residential building which suddenly gave way, trapping two occupants, one of whom was later confirmed dead.
Recounting his experience, an eyewitnesses who lived on the second floor of the building, said he was alone in the flat moments after his wife had left for work and taken their daughter to school. He said he first heard a heavy sound and then another louder one as the building collapsed around him.
The building fell on me, and I feared for my life,” he recounted, adding “I prayed to God to spare me at least for the good things I have done for people.”
He said that after the building fell, it was dark, and he could hear someone else crying for help. However, with difficulty, he navigated through the debris and emerged with physical injuries, which medical examination and lab results later confirmed were not life-threatening.
Upon rescue, the other victim, who was initially trapped in a different section of the building and shouting for help, was rushed to a nearby hospital alive. Unfortunately, despite emergency care, he later succumbed to injuries sustained, particularly as a result of fractures he had on his head. He was confirmed dead later in the evening, throwing his young family into mourning.
Responding to the tragedy, the Mayor of Onitsha North Local Government Area, Hon. Nweze Tony Nwora, arrived at the scene with emergency responders and local security officers. Mayor Nwora ordered the immediate cordoning off of the site to prevent further injuries and warned that the collapse might not be an isolated incident, hinting at possible regulatory breaches or construction malpractice in the area.He later disclosed that a full technical investigation had been commissioned to determine the root causes of the collapse, while also assuring the public that anyone found negligent would face prosecution under the law.Howbeit, barely 24 hours later the Onitsha tragedy, another building collapse occurred in Awka, the state capital, where a three-storey building with four suspended floors, located behind the Anambra State House of Assembly, off Ekwueme Square, Okpuno, caved in at about 11:40 a.m. on Thursday.
According to reports, the building, still under construction and at the roofing stage, collapsed without warning, causing panic among the residents and the passersby, most of whom heard the thunderous sound of the collapse.
Eyewitnesses reported that artisans were working on the roof when the structure suddenly collapsed. While the exact number of workers trapped remains unknown asset the time of this publication, it was also gathered that immediate rescue efforts were hampered by the lack of logistics and heavy equipment, such as excavators to move the rubbles and search for people.
When contacted by this reporter, Izunna Okafor; the Chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria Emergency Response Management (COREN-ERM) in Anambra State, Sir Victor Meju, said preliminary on-site investigations revealed a vertically complete collapse.
He attributed the likely causes of the total collapse to a poor concrete mixture and potential foundation issues.
His words: “It is a total failure, both on the side of the client and the side of the supervisor or engineer. The concrete structures were so poor.
“Normally, when a building collapses, you expect to see some beams or columns still standing. But this one crumbled completely to the ground. That indicates a very serious foundation problem, which may have triggered a ripple effect.”
Sir Meju further revealed that samples had already been collected for laboratory testing to determine the exact cause, after which a formal report would be released.
Asked whether there was any casualty, the COREN-ERM Chairman confirmed that as of 4 p.m. when he and his team left the site, no casualty had been recorded.
“We needed to get heavy-duty equipment to excavate, and we are still trying to confirm whether any workers were living or hiding within the site. As of now, no one has been seen, whether dead, alive, or injured,” he explained.
Following the incident, he confirmed that the State government has sealed the building site to preserve evidence and protect the public.
Efforts by this reporter to get the reactions of the MD of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Hon. Ossy Onuko, proved abortive, as he was yet to respond to his call and message of inquiry sent to him by the reporter assert the time of filing this report.
SOURCE 247 Reports