One person has died while four others were rescued after a four-storey building under construction collapsed at Independence Layout in Enugu State.
The incident occurred early Sunday morning on Ogbalu Street, where workers were reportedly staying inside the unfinished structure.
Emergency responders were immediately deployed to the scene as authorities began searching through the debris for possible survivors.
According to officials, six people were believed to have been staying at the construction site before the collapse. One of them had reportedly left the premises shortly before the incident occurred.
Four workers were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital for medical attention, while a body was later recovered from the collapsed structure.
The rescue operation involved personnel from the National Emergency Management Agency, Enugu State Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross, fire service, police and the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority.
Heavy-duty equipment, including excavators, was deployed to clear the concrete, steel and other debris and assist rescuers in reaching areas where victims could still be trapped.
The Chairman of the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority, Uche Anya, said preliminary inspections had identified structural concerns at the property.
According to him, the building had originally received approval in 2021, but subsequent inspection revealed what authorities described as serious structural integrity issues and deviations from the approved plan.
Anya said a stop-work order had been issued and the property sealed for about six months because of the identified violations. He added that the representative of the property owner had been handed over to the police as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Director of the Enugu State Fire Service, Okwudiri Oha, said the coordinated response of the emergency agencies helped in rescuing some of the workers trapped beneath the rubble.
Authorities said excavation of the entire collapsed section would continue to ensure that no survivor or victim remained buried under the debris.
The cause of the collapse is still under investigation, with the incident renewing concerns over compliance with approved building plans, construction standards, supervision and structural safety in the state.
