A two-storey building collapsed in the Oyingbo area of Lagos early Monday, leaving several occupants feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) confirmed that the incident occurred at 54, Cole Street, near Cemetery Bus Stop.
According to the agency’s Director, Margaret Adeseye, a distress call was received in the early hours of the morning, prompting an immediate response from rescue teams. Adeseye revealed that the building had previously been marked as “distressed” before it caved in on its occupants.
“So far, fifteen individuals, including seven male adults, four female adults, and four children, have been rescued with varying degrees of injury,” she said. “They have been taken to the Federal Medical Center, Ebute Meta, and the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, for medical treatment.”
The LSFRS team from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station continues to lead ongoing rescue operations at the scene, working to locate anyone who may still be trapped under the debris. The extent of the casualties remains uncertain as the situation develops.
“This is an ongoing rescue involving an existing two-storey building which had been marked distress before collapsing on the occupants,” the official report stated, emphasizing that emergency personnel are doing everything possible to save lives.
The incident adds to a troubling pattern of building collapses in Lagos and across Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season when structural weaknesses are more easily exposed.
In September, six people were rescued after a two-storey building collapsed on Modupeola Street, Mangoro, in the Alimosho area of the state. Similarly, on September 13, one person lost their life when a three-storey building gave way in Alagomeji, Lagos.
What You Should Know
Building collapses remain a major safety challenge in Lagos, often caused by poor construction practices, non-adherence to building standards, and weak enforcement of safety regulations.
The Oyingbo collapse follows a worrying trend that has claimed multiple lives in recent months. The Lagos State government continues to mark and demolish distressed structures to prevent further tragedies.
Authorities have urged residents to vacate marked buildings and report unsafe structures in their communities to the appropriate agencies to avert future disasters.
