Lagos building collapse: Victims’ relatives lament ‘delayed’ rescue operations

Family members of persons still trapped under the collapsed building in Lagos have asked rescue workers to endeavour to speed up operations.

On Monday, the 21-storey building located at Gerrard Road in Ikoyi caved in, leaving many trapped in the rubble.

Afterwards, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and security agencies were mobilised to the scene for the rescue exercise.

On Tuesday, sympathisers and victims’ relatives thronged the location of the collapsed building in the hope that more people would be rescued.

Although rescue workers were working at full gear for hours, a pause in operations led to a protest at the site.

Some members of the victims’ families who were sitting outside the location barricaded the gate of the building to protest what they described as the “delay” in the rescue operations.

Some of the victims’ relatives volunteered to assist the responders in the rescue exercise and the offer was initially accepted, but was later declined.

A woman at the site said her son who had came for industrial training at the site was currently trapped in the rubble of the collapsed building.

After more than one hour of the protest, responders resumed the rescue operations.

Speaking on the development, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, director-general (DG) of LASEMA, said the agency has been “working round the clock” since the incident occurred, and added that the rescue workers will remain committed to their duty.

As at the time of filing this report, the death toll stood at 14, while nine persons have been rescued.

See video here:

VIDEO: 'We'll strip naked' — victims' relatives say rescue exercise 'delayed' at collapsed Lagos building pic.twitter.com/XOYgmckdvc

— TheCable (@thecableng) November 2, 2021

VIDEO: Victim's relative laments 'slow' rescue exercise at collapsed Lagos building pic.twitter.com/k4bgGTMY9s

— TheCable (@thecableng) November 2, 2021

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