Onitsha collapsed building: 3 rescued as caterpillar exhumes trapped victims

Chuks Eke, Awka

Rescue operations were still ongoing as at 7:00p.m, on Wednesday, at the scene of the collapsed four-storey building at No. 7 Ezenwa Street, Odoakpu area of Onitsha, Anambra State.

So far, three of the seven trapped inside the debris had been rescued alive and rushed to nearby hospitals, while the fourth victim had one of his legs cut off and lifted up by the rescuing caterpillar.

It was not yet clear whether the victim would survive or not as he was still trapped inside the debris, with one of his legs torn out from the lap, as at the time of filing this report, on Wednesday evening.

Eight persons were said to be under the four-storey building structure when it suddenly collapsed at about 1.45 p.m. as construction works were still ongoing

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Eyewitnesses told newsmen that those trapped were six labourers and the site engineer handling the project.

It was further gathered that the building is owned by a lawyer, whose identity was yet to be ascertained.

Some of the sympathisers blamed the building engineer for using substandard materials for the construction.

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO for Onitsha Central Police Station (CPS), Mr. Ifeanyi Iburu, led a team of security operatives to ensure adequate security of lives and property at the scene, just as the state’s chairman of Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Prof. Peter Emeka Katchy, also led his own men to the rescue mission.