Seven injured as 3-storey building collapses in Rivers
By Jeffrey Agbo
Seven people sustained injuries when a three-storey building under construction collapsed at Aboga along the Igwuruta-Etche Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday afternoon.
Eyewitnesses reported that the incident occurred around 1:30 pm while nine workers were on-site. While two workers managed to jump off the building before it caved in, seven others were trapped under the rubble but were rescued with varying degrees of injuries.
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Emeka Kalu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.
He said local residents began the rescue efforts before authorities, including officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning, Urban Development, and the Ministry of Special Duties, responded with excavators, fire trucks and ambulances.
READ ALSO:
Bandits kill Katsina Miyetti Allah leader, abduct family members
State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Evans Bipi, who visited the scene, attributed the collapse to the use of substandard materials. “Preliminary investigation at the scene of the incident shows that the building may have collapsed due to the use of substandard materials by the developer,” Bipi said.
He also stated that the developer lacked a government-approved building plan and had been warned previously about similar issues. “It is unfortunate that we are beginning the year with this tragic incident, though no life was lost. This is the fourth building collapse we have witnessed in the state since I assumed office,” he added.
Bipi announced that the construction site had been sealed off pending further investigation and summoned the property owner for questioning. He warned developers against violating building codes, compromising safety standards or constructing without approved plans.
““Let me warn that we will no longer condone a situation where some builders will continue to violate the building code, including building without a government-approved building plan and compromising safety standards by using substandard materials in a bid to save cost,” he stated.
The injured victims are currently receiving medical attention, while the investigation into the cause of the collapse continues.
