One Dead, Several Trapped After Building Collapses On Port Harcourt Road

One person has been confirmed dead and several others were reported trapped after a building under construction collapsed along Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Daily Post reported that the collapse happened on Wednesday morning in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area. Daily Trust placed the site behind Eternal Filling Station, opposite Chief Sam Ngbor Avenue, off Peter Odili Road.

The sources differed on the number of floors. Daily Post described the structure as four storeys, while Daily Trust, Punch and Channels TV described it as three storeys. All reports identified the same Port Harcourt collapse scene and ongoing rescue operation.

Daily Post said residents rescued some victims shortly after the incident, while one body was recovered from the rubble. The outlet also reported that a site engineer and several workers were feared trapped.

Punch reported that officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health and Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning were at the scene. Acting Permanent Secretary Dr Vincent Wachukwu said two severely injured persons had been taken to Rivers State University Teaching Hospital.

Emergency responders at the scene included police officers, NEMA officials, the Fire Service, the Nigerian Red Cross, FRSC, NSCDC and health ministry ambulance teams, according to the reports.

Daily Trust quoted the Rivers police spokesperson, ASP Blessing Kaborlo Agabe, as confirming that two persons had been rescued and taken to hospital while rescue operations continued.

Daily Post also reported that a site worker, Oladimeji Taiwo, said cracks had appeared in the structure and that workers were warned shortly before the building gave way. The cause of the collapse had not been confirmed at the time of the reports.

Sources: Daily Post, Daily Trust, Punch, Channels TV