Two victims have been rescued alive following a building collapse in Rivers State, while emergency responders continue intensive search and rescue operations for workers believed to be trapped beneath the rubble in Port Harcourt.
PORT HARCOURT – The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed that two persons were rescued alive from the scene of a three-storey building collapse along Odili Road in Port Harcourt, as emergency responders continue efforts to locate other victims trapped beneath the debris.
The building, which was reportedly under construction, collapsed on Wednesday, triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving multiple government agencies and emergency services.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, said rescue operations remained ongoing and that authorities were still working to determine the full extent of casualties resulting from the collapse.
According to Agabe, two individuals have so far been rescued alive from the rubble, while rescue workers continue clearing debris in search of additional victims.
“Rescue workers are still clearing the debris from the collapsed building, and as such, I cannot provide an accurate account of the casualties. However, I can confirm that two persons have been rescued from the rubble,” she said.
The police spokesperson added that emergency personnel were intensifying efforts to reach other workers believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
Eyewitnesses at the scene suggested that possible structural defects may have contributed to the collapse, although officials have yet to determine the exact cause of the incident.
One survivor, identified simply as Gift, disclosed that at least eight workers were inside the building when it suddenly gave way.
“About eight persons were working inside the building when it collapsed,” he said, adding that some workers were rescued shortly after the incident occurred.
Also commenting on the situation, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, said emergency teams were swiftly deployed following reports of the collapse.
Wachukwu revealed that ambulances were mobilised to evacuate injured victims for urgent medical treatment.
“So far, two severely injured persons have been rescued and taken to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital for treatment,” he stated.
Rescue operations are being coordinated by the Rivers State Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
As excavation and debris-clearing efforts continue, authorities remain focused on reaching any remaining victims and determining the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
The incident has renewed concerns about construction safety standards and structural integrity compliance across building projects in Rivers State.
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