How 4 family members died in Kwara building collapse
Dele Moses, Ilorin
Four members of a family have been confirmed dead after a storey building collapsed in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, on Tuesday.
Four other members of the family were rescued alive from the collapse and were said to be in critical condition at an hospital they were rushed to in the town.
The incident happened at Masalasi Gogoro area at Popo Giwa, a native area of the town.
The building reportedly collapsed at around 5:30am while the Kwara State Fire service and other relevant agencies were said to be immediately contacted.
Though the whole of the storey building did not collapse substantial part of it involving eight rooms fell.
The victims include both children and adults, make and female and most of them were said to be members of the same family.
They were identified as Muhammed Bolakale, 55; Fasilat, 53; Mistura, 28; Barakat, 26; Zainab, 23; Hajia, 15; Muqtar, 7; and Fridaos, 10.
The dead among them were said to include both children and adults.
The rescue operation was carried out with the aid of two excavator deployed to the scene.
The state fire service, which said its personnel immediately commenced search-and-rescue operations upon arrival at the scene disclosed that four victims were successfully rescued alive, while four others recovered were suspected to have died in the collapse.
The service said the building was found to be unsafe and unfit for habitation, noting that it appeared unable to withstand the pressure exerted on its structural components.
The Chief Fire Officer of the state fire service, CFO Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters for their courage, resilience and professionalism during the rescue operation.
He also appreciated the Federal Fire Service, Kwara State Command, and other emergency agencies for their timely intervention and cooperation in the rescue efforts.
The fire service urged residents to promptly report visible signs of structural weakness, cracks and other conditions that could indicate that a building is unsafe.
It also advised property owners to ensure that their buildings are regularly assessed and maintained by qualified professionals to prevent avoidable loss of lives and property.
The rescue operation also involved the Federal Fire Service, NSCDC Disaster Management Department, Emergency Ambulance Services, Hospital Management Bureau, State Emergency Management Agency, National Emergency Management Agency, Kwara State Road Traffic Management Agency, Nigeria Police Force, Life Glide Ambulance, Nigerian Red Cross Society and the Ministry of Environment.
