Local officials and witnesses report a 21-story skyscraper under construction in Lagos, Nigeria, has fallen, trapping an unknown number of people. Work on the rescue is now underway.
On Monday, shortly after 2 p.m., a 21-story structure on Gerard Road in the Ikoyi area came crashing down and entirely fell over itself.
Search-and-rescue activities were underway, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), but it was unclear how many people were still missing.
“All first responders are at the scene while the heavy duty equipment and life detection equipment have been dispatched,” said Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the head of LASEMA.
The Lagos state government recently launched a new certificate of completion and fitness to reduce the incidence of building collapse accidents.
The certificate’s goal is to protect citizens’ lives while also addressing the core causes of building collapses.
Following the launch, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) was given the responsibility of granting the certificate to all existing and new structures in the state.
The Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had previously blamed past building collapse events in the state to a lack of adherence to physical planning standards.
