ABUJA — At least five persons have been confirmed dead, while 10 others were rescued alive after a three-storey building under construction collapsed on Saturday morning in the Durumi 3 area near Gudu Market in Abuja.
The incident, which occurred around the Gaduwa Estate area of the Gudu district, triggered a large-scale emergency response as rescue workers continued searching through the rubble for more victims feared trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration confirmed the tragedy in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Mr. Lere Olayinka.
According to the statement, emergency responders recovered five bodies from the debris, while 10 other victims were pulled out alive and rushed for medical attention.
The statement read in part: “At least five persons have been confirmed dead while 10 others were rescued alive after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Durumi 3 area near Gudu Market, Abuja, on Saturday morning.
“Rescue operations are still ongoing as emergency responders continue efforts to evacuate more victims believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.”
The Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, also visited the scene on behalf of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Dr. Fasawe disclosed that the minister directed that all injured victims receive free medical treatment as authorities intensified rescue and emergency response efforts at the site.
She noted that rescue teams were operating under difficult conditions while combing through the debris in search of survivors.
Officials of the Federal Fire Service, security agencies, medical personnel, and local volunteers were seen working tirelessly at the scene, while anxious residents gathered nearby awaiting updates on missing persons and ongoing rescue operations.
The cause of the collapse had not been officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report, although authorities said investigations into the incident would commence after rescue operations are concluded.
