Photo: LASEMA
LAGOS, NIGERIA: A three-storey shopping complex collapsed late Thursday morning in the Alakija area of Satellite Town, Lagos State, resulting in at least one fatality and leaving multiple people injured or trapped beneath the debris.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:40 a.m. on Old Ojo Road, near the Alakija Bus Stop off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. The collapse triggered an immediate, massive deployment of state emergency services to the scene.
Ongoing Rescue Operations
A coordinated, multi-agency rescue operation is currently underway, led by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, alongside personnel from the CRCC Construction Company.
Emergency teams are systematically searching the rubble to locate survivors. Authorities confirmed that heavy-duty machinery, including excavators, has been deployed to assist in clearing the collapsed structure.
Casualty and Rescue Updates
Discrepancies initially emerged regarding the exact number of survivors pulled from the wreckage, but officials confirmed that at least 10 individuals have been rescued alive. The survivors sustained varying degrees of injuries and were immediately handed over to emergency medical personnel for treatment.
Search teams have also recovered the body of one deceased adult male.
Victims Feared Trapped
The total number of people remaining under the rubble is still undetermined. Officials expressed strong concerns that additional individuals, including local shop owners who had already opened for daily business activities, are trapped inside.
Emergency personnel arrived at the location within twelve minutes of receiving the initial distress calls. Because the structure housed several active businesses, officials have strongly urged the public and local residents to avoid the area. Keeping the perimeter clear ensures that rescue teams and heavy equipment have unrestricted access to conduct life-saving operations safely.
As of Thursday evening, the official cause of the building's collapse remains unknown, and investigations are ongoing.