Awka: Two-Storey Building Collapses, Kills Two

Two persons were feared dead last Thursday at Kwata Junction, Awka, following the collapse of an uncompleted two-storey building.

Eyewitness account said the incident, which occurred on the day the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was received in the state capital, took place at about noon.

The eyewitnesses said that some 12 persons were trapped in the debris.

Also, people left the Ekwueme Square, venue of the reception of Ojukwu’s remains in droves to have first hand information about the collapsed building.

Rescuers from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), led by Dr Nwabufor Ijezie, the State Police Command, the Federal Road Safety Commission and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as a construction company workers quickly mobilised cranes to rescue the victims.

An eyewitness, who blamed the collapse on a shoddy job, told newsmen that the building was abandoned by a contractor, but was re-started last Monday by another contractor.

The Special Adviser on Housing and Urban Development to the state Governor, Chief Lawrence Chinwuba, described the incident as unfortunate.

“We were at the Alex Ekwueme Square when I was called and when I came, I saw some legs of people who were trapped,” he said.

While stressing that the collapse could be as a result of sub standard materials, Chinwuba said it was difficult to ascertain the number of causalities immediately.

Also commenting, Ijezie, who is the Executive Director of SEMA said that 14 workers including an engineer, were working at the site when the incident occurred.

Ijezie commended the construction company for bringing its equipment for the rescue operation.