A two-storey constructing nonetheless beneath building and housing merchants and store house owners collapsed on the Eke Amawbia market in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Thursday.
Though the casualty determine has not been formally ascertained, it was gathered that lives may need been misplaced within the incident and lots of are feared trapped beneath the rubble.
Eyewitnesses stated the incident occurred at about midday, creating panic amongst among the merchants and residents within the space.
The eyewitnesses stated the two-storey constructing immediately crumbled, burying quite a few merchants beneath the particles.
As of the time of submitting this report, one particular person had been rescued and rushed to Amawbia Maternity House for pressing medical consideration, however many extra are believed to be trapped contained in the wreckage.
Some cops have arrived on the scene to coordinate rescue efforts and preserve order.
Merchants who witnessed the collapse blamed the catastrophe on substandard engineering work, alleging that the constructing’s structural integrity had been compromised.
Whereas some others blamed the collapse on the persistent rainfall since final week.
The spokesman for the state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the event when contacted, saying two victims have been rescued and rescue operations are nonetheless ongoing.
In the meantime, rescue operations are at present ongoing, with emergency responders working to seek for survivors amidst the rubble.
Our correspondent studies that the ambiance on the market is tense, with onlookers anxiously ready for information of the rescue of the individuals feared trapped within the constructing.
The incident has despatched panic to the neighborhood, with many calling for an investigation into the reason for the collapse.
Extra particulars later…
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