4 Killed As Building Collapses In Imo (photos)

Four occupants of a two storey building on Fire Service/Mbaise Road died after the building collapsed at the early hour on Sunday.

Two corps members were among the unconscious victims who were dogged up from the debris of the collapsed building by the Red Cross Society and the Imo State Emergency Management Agency.

Our correspondent gathered that the two-storey building located opposite the Owerri Area Police Command Headquarters, which was occupied by families within the low income bracket, caved in about 3:30am, while the occupants, were still deep asleep.

The building is said to be the fifth to collapse within the state capital in the last one month.

As at the time our correspondent visited the scene of the incident, four bodies were confirmed dead, while six others were rescued unconscious.

The victims were  taken to nearby  hospital for treatment, while efforts were on by the aid workers to rescue other trapped occupants.

The structure, which is owned by GOFONS Veterinary Centre, a retail outlet for animal feeds and other agricultural products, according to sources, was originally designed for one storey-building before the owner added additional floor to the building.

The state governor,  Rochas Okorocha;  commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Ezike and the deputy chief of staff to the governor,  Engr Kingsley Uju, visited the scene for on-the-spot assessment.

The visibly angry governor, ordered that the building beside the collapsed one,  which is equally deficient, should be demolished to serve as deterrent to other person’s who build houses without government approval.

The governor also promised to pay the medical bills of the injured, while he urged the rescue teams to try harder to rescue those who may have been trapped.

A woman and her husband, who were rescued, stressed that three of their children were trapped. As at the time of filing this report, the rescue workers with their excavators, were working tirelessly to unearth those trapped in the wreckage.
More photos below;