Another building collapses in Onitsha, the second after the Ochanja Market disaster that claimed six lives about three weeks ago.
The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday 10 March, according to witnesses.
About five persons may have perished when a five storey building at Basden Street, Fegge, collapsed, according to the eyewitnesses. The building, still under construction, was for commercial purposes. Incidentally, the 3-storey Ochanja Market building was also in construction. There were conflicting reports of casualties. Eye witnesses said 10 persons died, emergency workers put the number at six, But Gov Soludo said five died.
The Punch reported eye-witness who heard “a thunderous noise” on Friday night after a heavy rainfall and strong winds.
“At about 5.00 a.m. on Sunday, we heard a thunderous noise from the construction site. After a few minutes, the building started caving in from the last floor.
“Some of the workers were on the last floor when the building came down. No one knows how many there were, but they are under the rubble. The developer quickly moved an excavator to the site to evacuate the rubble and possibly rescue trapped victims.
“The building was at its finishing stages. An escalator is currently working on the debris to rescue trapped persons. We are not sure if they are still dead or alive. The local government area chairman visited there. He is waiting for the escalator to pull down the remains of the building.”
Emergency workers are on the site to rescue those trapped in the rubble, witnesses said..
When Gov Soludo visited the Ochanja disaster three weeks ago, he promised to prosecute and jail “the developer, chairman of the market and every other person involved in the disaster.
“The remaining building under construction by the same developer, near the collapsed one, will be demolished immediately after rescue operations on the site had been completed,” he said.
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