Two people have been confirmed dead and three others rescued after a three-storey students’ hostel known as Elite Five Star Lodge collapsed in Amaokpala, near the Federal Polytechnic Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The building, which reportedly had about 60 rooms and housed mostly students, caved in on Sunday night, trapping an unknown number of occupants beneath the rubble.
Eyewitnesses said the structure collapsed while people were inside, prompting residents and passers-by to rush to the scene after hearing a loud noise.
Emergency responders from NEMA, ANSEMA, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the Anambra State Fire Service, the police and other agencies commenced search and rescue operations in the early hours of Monday.
Heavy-duty excavators and specialised equipment were deployed to clear the debris as security personnel cordoned off the area.
By Monday evening, rescuers had recovered two bodies, while three injured victims were pulled from the rubble and taken to hospital for treatment.
The Acting Executive Secretary of ANSEMA, Ndidi Omega, confirmed that rescue operations would continue until every part of the collapsed structure had been searched.
The Head of Media and Publicity of the Anambra State Fire Service, Chukwudi Chiketa, said the cause of the collapse had not yet been determined and remained under investigation.
Police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga urged residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information and stay away from the scene to allow emergency personnel unrestricted access.
NEMA has since sealed off the premises to facilitate rescue operations and preserve the site for investigations into the cause of the building collapse.
