11 die as building collapses in Nigeria

A four-storey apartment building collapsed overnight in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos, killing 11 people.

Red Cross official Timothy Oladene said 35 injured people had been rescued so far and sent by ambulance to several hospitals across the city.

It was unclear how many people were in the building when it collapsed last night, though an estimated 100 people lived there.

Prince Oniru, an adviser to the Lagos state government on infrastructure, said the building was weak and blamed those who built it. “The material used in the construction was very poor,” he said.

The four-storey building collapsed in a twisted mess from which wires and concrete beams protruded. Ripped mattresses, smashed sofas, children’s books and broken plates littered a dusty, chaotic scene.

Oladene said power went out in the Ebute-Meta district Tuesday evening and volunteers worked though the night with candles and flashlights.

By this morning, police kept back thousands of people crowded around the building looking for loved ones and picking through the rubble. The crowds cheered as a woman was brought out alive.

Oladene said a Red Cross employee was among those trapped inside.

“We have rescued his wife and two children but the man is still inside,” Oladene said. “We will be here until we find the last person.”

Several ambulances stood on standby, ready to evacuate survivors. Three cranes worked to lift larger pieces of rubble.