At least five persons have died while 10 others have been rescued alive following the collapse of a three-storey building under construction in the Durumi 3 area near Gudu Market in Abuja on Saturday morning.
Emergency responders are, however, still combing the debris as search and rescue operations continue for persons believed to be trapped under the rubble.
The incident was confirmed in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka.
The statement noted that the collapsed structure is located around Gaduwa Estate within the Gudu District of the capital city.
It read in part, “At least five persons have been confirmed dead while 10 others have been rescued alive after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Durumi 3 area, near Gudu Market, Abuja, on Saturday morning.”
It added that rescue operations were still ongoing, with emergency teams working to evacuate possible survivors trapped beneath the debris.
The statement further disclosed that the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, visited the scene and confirmed that the FCT Administration had activated full emergency response measures.
According to her, the FCT Minister had directed that all injured victims receive free medical treatment, while medical teams had been mobilised to support ongoing rescue operations.
She said rescue personnel were operating under difficult conditions as efforts continued to locate and extract survivors from the collapsed building.
Meanwhile, officials of the Federal Fire Service, security agencies, medical personnel and local volunteers were seen at the site, working through the rubble as anxious residents watched the unfolding rescue operation.