A tragic building collapse has claimed the life of one person and left several others trapped after a three-storey structure under construction caved in along Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The incident occurred on Wednesday in the upscale area of the state capital, sending shockwaves through the community and triggering an emergency rescue operation involving multiple agencies.
Witnesses at the scene said the building suddenly collapsed while construction workers were inside. Although the exact cause of the disaster has yet to be determined, some residents and observers suspect structural defects may have contributed to the incident.
Rescue teams recovered the body of an unidentified victim from the rubble, while efforts continued to locate and save others believed to be trapped beneath the debris. Emergency responders from the Rivers State Government, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and other agencies were deployed to the scene.
A survivor identified as Taiwo said at least seven workers were inside the building when it collapsed. According to him, four people had been rescued alive by the afternoon, while several others remained trapped.
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“I had stepped out to buy something when the building came down,” he said. “My brother was among those working inside. Four people have been rescued, but others are still trapped.”
Officials from the Rivers State Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning, the Ministry of Health, and security agencies were also present to coordinate rescue efforts.
Speaking at the site, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Director of Medical Services, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said emergency medical teams were mobilised immediately after reports of the collapse.
He disclosed that two severely injured victims were rescued and taken to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital for urgent medical treatment. He added that hospital emergency units and ambulance services had been placed on standby to handle additional casualties.
Wachukwu assured residents that all relevant agencies were working together to rescue those still trapped and provide medical assistance to survivors.
As rescue operations continued, authorities urged residents to stay away from the area to allow emergency workers unhindered access to the site. Investigations into the cause of the collapse are expected to commence once rescue efforts are completed.
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