In the early hours of Thursday, tragedy struck in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, as a storey building collapsed in the Jegede Olunloyo area, claiming the lives of at least 10 people.
The incident, which reportedly took place around 2:00 a.m., also left seven others injured. Rescue teams, led by the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, swiftly responded to the scene.
The General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the disaster to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to Akinyinka, the agency received a distress call about the collapse shortly after it happened.
“At approximately 2:00 a.m., we received a distress call regarding a building collapse in the Jegede Olunloyo area. Our personnel were immediately deployed to the site,” Akinyinka explained.
Upon arrival, the rescue team commenced operations to locate and assist any survivors trapped within the building’s rubble.
Akinyinka stated, “So far, we have recovered ten individuals from the debris. Sadly, they were found lifeless. However, seven people were rescued alive, albeit with injuries, and they have been transferred to the hospital for medical attention.”
The cause of the collapse remains unknown at this stage, but authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the possible factors that led to the disaster.
Structural weaknesses, poor construction materials, or overloading could potentially be among the reasons, though no official statement has confirmed these.
Rescue operations were still ongoing at the time of this report, as emergency services strove to ensure no individuals remained trapped within the collapsed structure.
The incident has cast a sombre mood over the area, with families, friends, and community members gathering at the site, hoping for more survivors to be found.
