|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By Sunny A. David, Awka
Tragedy struck Anambra State as two buildings collapsed in separate locations within 24 hours, leaving one person dead and several others injured.
The incidents occurred in Onitsha and Awka, prompting immediate intervention and investigation by government authorities.
The first incident happened in the early hours of Wednesday at Akpaka GRA Phase II, Onitsha North Local Government Area. A two-storey residential building on Prince Chinedu Akwuaka Street suddenly collapsed, trapping two occupants inside.
One of the residents, who survived the collapse, recounted his narrow escape. He said the building gave way shortly after his wife left for work and took their child to school. “I heard a loud noise, and then everything came crashing down. I prayed to God to spare me,” he said.
Despite sustaining injuries, the survivor managed to crawl out of the debris. The second victim, who was initially rescued alive, later died in the hospital due to severe head injuries. His death plunged his young family into mourning.
Responding to the incident, the Mayor of Onitsha North, Hon. Tony Nwora, visited the scene with emergency responders and ordered the area cordoned off. He emphasized the need for a full investigation, hinting at possible construction violations, and warned that anyone found culpable would face legal consequences.
Less than a day after the Onitsha collapse, another building under construction collapsed around 11:40 a.m. on Thursday in Awka, the State capital. The three-storey structure, with four additional suspended floors, was located behind the Anambra State House of Assembly, near Ekwueme Square.
According to witnesses, construction workers were working on the roof when the building suddenly caved in, sending shockwaves through the area. The exact number of people trapped was unknown at the time of reporting, as initial rescue efforts were hindered by a lack of heavy-duty equipment like excavators.
Sir Victor Meju, Chairman of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria Emergency Response Management (COREN-ERM) in Anambra, said on-site assessments revealed a “complete vertical failure” of the structure.
“It’s a total collapse nothing was left standing. That points to serious structural issues, particularly with the foundation and concrete mix,” he said. Samples have been taken for laboratory testing to determine the exact cause, and a full report will follow.
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, no casualties had been confirmed from the Awka collapse, although rescue operations were ongoing. The site has since been sealed by the Anambra State Government for safety and investigative purposes.
Efforts to reach Hon. Ossy Onuko, Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.