Three people have been killed and four others seriously injured after a two-storey shopping complex under construction collapsed in Owode-Ede, Osun State.
The incident occurred late on Friday, trapping several workers who were reportedly sleeping in the building ahead of the following day’s work.
The Osun State Commandant of the Federal Fire Service, Femi Isaac, confirmed the casualties on Saturday.
Isaac said the agency received a distress call from the Divisional Police Officer of A Division at about 11pm on Friday and immediately deployed personnel to the scene.
According to him, the victims were tiling apprentices working on the building. He added that their supervisor was not present when the structure collapsed.
“Three people died and their bodies have been taken to the mortuary, while five were rescued alive and taken to a private hospital in Ede. Four sustained serious injuries. Some of them fractured their legs and hands. Only one person who did not sleep early escaped unhurt,” he said.
Isaac said the workers had reportedly noticed signs of structural weakness before the building collapsed.
He added that the most senior apprentice told rescuers he had warned the others against sleeping on the upper floor shortly before the structure gave way.
The fire service commandant said personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps also joined the rescue operation.
Two residents of the community, who spoke with our correspondent on Saturday, said a loud noise from the building shortly before 11pm attracted the attention of people in the neighbourhood.
One of the residents, identified as John, said three bodies were recovered from the rubble, while the injured victims were taken to hospital.
“I live in the neighbourhood where the collapsed building is located. It’s a two-storey building. Three dead bodies were recovered from the rubble. Some other people were also injured. From what we heard, those killed and the others injured slept in the building,” he said.
John added that operatives of the Federal Fire Service and the police arrived shortly after the incident and continued search and rescue operations until the early hours of Saturday.
He also disclosed that the building’s owner, who lives close to the site, was present during the rescue operation.
