LASEMA rescues 27, recovers nine bodies from collapsed Lagos building

Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, has concluded search, rescue and recovery operations at the site of the collapsed two-storey building near Alakija Bus Stop in Satellite Town, rescuing 27 persons alive while recovering nine bodies from the debris.

The building reportedly collapsed around 12:47 p.m. on Thursday in the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos.

In a statement issued on Friday by the agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Afolabi Olawale, LASEMA said emergency response teams were immediately mobilised to the scene following distress alerts.

According to the agency, its Sharks Response Team from the Lekki Base and the Alpha Cobra Squad from Onipanu arrived at the location within 40 minutes alongside other emergency responders.

Agencies involved in the operation included the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, LNSC, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Red Cross and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC.

LASEMA disclosed that all 27 rescued victims received immediate medical attention from LASAMBUS officials before being transported to nearby hospitals for further treatment.

The agency stated that the fatalities included four adults confirmed dead before rescuers arrived at the scene, while five additional victims, among them a two-year-old girl, were later recovered during the operation.

According to the statement, the remains of the deceased were handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for identification and release to their relatives.

LASEMA added that its heavy-duty excavator worked alongside two excavators deployed by CCECC, enabling rescue workers to gain access to trapped victims and complete the operation safely.

The agency confirmed that rescue efforts ended around 4:00 a.m. on Friday after emergency responders successfully reached ground zero.

It further disclosed that the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, alongside the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, supervised the operation throughout the exercise.

LASEMA said Babajide Sanwo-Olu had directed LASBCA to immediately conduct integrity tests on adjoining buildings and ensure strict compliance with building regulations within the area.

The agency expressed sympathy with the families of the deceased and wished those injured speedy recovery.

It also urged residents to promptly report distressed structures to LASBCA or through LASEMA’s emergency toll-free lines, 112 and 767, to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

LASEMA rescues 27, recovers nine bodies from collapsed Lagos building