A tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Monday when a two-storey building collapsed at No. 54 Cole Street, Cemetery Bus Stop, Oyingbo, Lagos, leaving several residents trapped under the rubble. The collapse reportedly happened just after midnight, sparking panic among residents and passersby.

According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), the distress call was received at about 12:20 a.m., and firefighters from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station arrived at the scene within minutes to begin rescue operations. The prompt response helped save several lives as the rescue team worked tirelessly through the night to pull out victims from the debris.

The Director of LSFRS, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed that 15 people were rescued alive, including seven men, four women, and four children, all sustaining varying degrees of injury. The victims were quickly taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta, and the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, for emergency treatment.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the collapsed building had been previously marked as distressed, yet occupants continued living in it despite warnings from relevant authorities. This revelation has raised renewed concerns about enforcement of building safety regulations across the state.

Adeseye assured the public that rescue operations were ongoing, with teams from multiple emergency agencies working together to ensure no victim is left behind. “We are fully mobilised on-site and committed to rescuing everyone trapped,” she said, urging residents to avoid unsafe buildings and comply with safety notices issued by government agencies.