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| Collapse Hostel |
The death toll from the collapse of a three-storey student hostel in Anambra State has risen to two, while emergency responders have rescued three people alive from the wreckage following an intensive search operation.
The incident occurred at the Elite Five Star Lodge in Amaokpala, close to the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area. The building suddenly gave way, trapping several occupants beneath the debris and prompting a large-scale rescue effort involving multiple emergency agencies.
Emergency personnel, including officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency, the State Fire Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and local volunteers, worked throughout the operation to locate those trapped.
Three victims were successfully rescued and rushed to St. Michael Hospital in Oko for medical treatment. Sadly, two others were later confirmed dead after their bodies were recovered from the collapsed structure.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the collapse. Investigations are expected to examine the structural integrity of the building and whether construction and safety regulations were adequately followed.
Following the incident, rescue teams used heavy-duty equipment to clear large sections of the debris while carefully searching for anyone who might still be trapped. NEMA disclosed that more than half of the rubble had been removed before operations were temporarily suspended to resume the following day.
Meanwhile, the management of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, clarified that the collapsed building is a privately owned hostel situated outside the institution's campus. According to the school, no registered student of the polytechnic has been confirmed among the deceased, noting that most students had already left after completing their second-semester examinations.
The tragic incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of private student accommodations and the need for stricter enforcement of building standards across Nigeria. Building collapses have continued to claim lives in different parts of the country, prompting repeated calls for stronger oversight of construction projects and routine structural inspections.
Residents, students and sympathisers gathered at the scene as emergency workers continued their efforts, while authorities pledged to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse and take appropriate action where necessary.