At least 2 construction workers were trapped in the midst of rubbles after a building collapsed in Onitsha, Anambra state on Wednesday. The building, a 5-storey edifice was the property of Dennis Memorial Grammar School in the commercial city.
The building project reportedly started two years ago and was said to have been initiated by the international old boys’ chapter of the school to commemorate its forthcoming centenary anniversary.
A source who witnessed the collapse said, “The building started caving in from the last floor until it came down to the rubbles. The failed structure did not pose any danger as the students’ hostel was far from the building site. This helped to avoid any casualty on the part of the students.
“But we learnt that some construction workers were already at the site when it collapsed but we don’t know the number of the workers.”
Rescue workers were soon mobilized to the site to begin the work of excavation and rescue the trapped workers.
The Chairman of the COREN Technical/Expatriate Committee of Anambra State, Victor Metu, said the team of engineers handling the project were qualified and registered.
He argued the cause of the collapsed building might be substandard materials, stressing that until full investigation and analysis were done, the society could not ascertain the main cause of the collapse
“I was at the scene right away to get the various factors involved. We are still excavating. I learnt that there may be some people trapped, but I will give full information later.”
The state deputy governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim, was also at the site of the collapse and encouraged residents to remain calm as rescue workers begin work.
