At least 16 people have been rescued alive from the scene of a building collapse in the Alakija area of Lagos State, as emergency responders continue efforts to locate and rescue other victims who may still be trapped beneath the debris.
The incident occurred on Thursday along Old Ojo Road, near Alakija Bus Stop, off the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Satellite Town, prompting a large-scale emergency response involving multiple agencies.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that six additional survivors were pulled from the rubble during ongoing rescue operations, bringing the total number of rescued victims to 16.
In a statement, the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, disclosed that the agency received a distress call at approximately 11:37 a.m. and immediately deployed emergency personnel from the Ijegun-Egba Fire Station.
According to the statement, responders arrived at the scene within minutes and commenced search-and-rescue operations.
“The incident involves the collapse of a storey residential building occupied by multiple residents at the time of the collapse,” Adeseye said.
She noted that all rescued victims sustained varying degrees of injuries and were handed over to medical personnel for treatment.
Emergency officials said rescue efforts remain ongoing, with teams working around the clock to search through the rubble for possible survivors.
“Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as emergency responders continue efforts to locate, extricate, and evacuate any persons who may still be trapped beneath the debris,” the statement added.
The operation has drawn support from several emergency and security agencies, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Navy, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), and the Nigerian Red Cross Society.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the structure, believed to be a multi-storey residential building, suddenly collapsed around 11:40 a.m., triggering panic among residents and passers-by.
Crowds gathered around the site as rescue workers battled to reach those trapped beneath the wreckage, while family members and concerned residents anxiously awaited updates.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the collapse, and investigations are expected to commence after rescue operations are concluded.
Emergency officials have assured the public that efforts will continue until all affected persons are accounted for, while further updates are expected as the operation progresses.
