A three-storey commercial building has collapsed in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, only hours after officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration sealed the structure and ordered occupants to vacate the premises.
The building reportedly collapsed on Monday evening, with emergency authorities receiving a distress call at about 7:20 p.m.
Following the incident, emergency responders, including personnel from the FCT Fire Service and other relevant agencies, were deployed to the scene to commence search and rescue operations.
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department said preliminary information from eyewitnesses indicated that there were no confirmed casualties at the time of the initial assessment. However, responders continued searching the debris to determine whether anyone might have been trapped inside.
The FCT Police Command also confirmed that its personnel were deployed to the area after receiving a distress call at approximately 7:45 p.m.
According to the police, the response team worked alongside officials from the National Emergency Management Agency, Federal Road Safety Corps, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Federal Fire Service, the FCT Administration and other emergency agencies.
The police said preliminary investigations showed that the building had previously been marked and sealed by the Department of Development Control in Abuja.
The circumstances surrounding the collapse and its possible cause had not been established as of the time of the reports.
The FCT Emergency Management Department said three ambulances were positioned at the scene, while responders awaited heavy equipment to assist with the search through the rubble.
Authorities appealed to members of the public to keep away from the affected area to allow emergency workers and security personnel to carry out their duties without obstruction.
The incident comes less than two weeks after another building collapsed in Kubwa, Abuja, on August 28. In that case, two residents who were trapped in a ground-floor apartment were rescued and taken to Kubwa General Hospital.
Further details on possible casualties, the extent of the damage and the cause of the Wuse Zone 4 collapse are expected as emergency and investigative operations continue.
