Five dead, 11 rescued in Abuja building collapse

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja At least five people have died, and 11 others were pulled out alive from the rubble after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in Abuja’s Gudu/Durumi 3 area on Saturday morning, rescue officials said. The unfinished structure, located behind Gudu Market, caved in at about 8:30 a.m. while labourers were reportedly working on the site. Emergency crews raced to the scene and began search-and-rescue operations that continued through the day. Head of Public Affairs at the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), Nkechi Isa, confirmed the casualty figures and said responders were still trying to reach victims believed trapped beneath debris. “Search and rescue operations are ongoing as emergency responders battle to rescue more persons trapped in the rubble of a collapsed three‑storey building at the Gudu District in the FCT,” she said. Isa said 16 people had been recovered so far. Eleven were taken to Federal Medical Centre Abuja, Asokoro District Hospital and Maitama Hospital for treatment, while five were confirmed dead at the scene. Multiple agencies joined the response, including the National Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Fire Service, the FCT Fire Service, the FCT Police Command, the Nigerian Army and the Federal Road Safety Corps, supported by medical teams and volunteers. In a social media post, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, said the collapse occurred around the Durumi 3 axis near Gudu Market and reiterated that rescue efforts were ongoing. He added that Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Adedolapo Fasawe, was at the site and that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had ordered free medical treatment for all casualties. Residents gathered near the scene as emergency workers continued clearance and recovery operations. Tags: #Abuja building collapse #FCT Emergency Management #Gudu collapse #nyesom wike #three-storey building collapse