A major rescue operation was underway on Thursday after a three-storey shopping complex collapsed in the Alakija area of Lagos State, killing one person, injuring several others, and leaving an unknown number of people trapped beneath the rubble.
The building, situated on Old Ojo Road near Alakija Bus Stop along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Satellite Town, caved in at about 11:40 a.m., triggering an emergency response from multiple agencies, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.
LASEMA’s permanent secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that rescue teams were conducting intensive search-and-rescue operations at the site amid fears that more victims remained trapped.
He said emergency responders had been mobilised immediately after the incident and were working in coordination to locate and extricate survivors from the debris.
According to Oke-Osanyintolu, two people were initially rescued alive through the combined efforts of LASEMA, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), and the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) Construction Company.
He also confirmed that the body of an adult male had been recovered from the rubble, while efforts continued to reach others believed to be trapped.
The LASEMA chief disclosed that preliminary reports indicated that several shop owners and other occupants who had resumed business activities in the complex before the collapse could still be beneath the wreckage.
To support the rescue mission, heavy-duty equipment, including excavators, was deployed to the scene as emergency workers intensified efforts to clear debris and search for survivors.
Oke-Osanyintolu appealed to residents and onlookers to stay away from the area to allow rescue personnel unrestricted access to carry out life-saving operations safely and efficiently.
He assured the public that LASEMA would continue to provide verified updates as developments unfold.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service provided additional details on the incident, stating that it received a distress call at 11:37 a.m. and immediately dispatched firefighters and rescue personnel from the Ijegun-Egba Fire Station.
The agency’s Controller General, Margaret Adeseye, said emergency responders arrived at the scene within minutes and commenced rescue operations.
Adeseye described the collapsed structure as an occupied residential building housing multiple residents at the time of the incident.
She disclosed that 10 people had been rescued alive from the debris and handed over to medical personnel for treatment of varying degrees of injuries.
According to her, rescue teams remained on the ground conducting further searches for possible survivors still trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
She noted that efforts were focused on locating, extricating and evacuating anyone found alive under the rubble while ensuring the safety of emergency workers at the scene.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not determined the cause of the building collapse. Investigations are expected to commence after rescue operations are concluded.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over building safety and structural integrity in Lagos, where cases of building collapse have continued to pose significant risks to lives and property.
