Death toll gets higher

Death toll in this morning collapsed five-storey building in Lekki area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria has risen to 10.

Michael Akindele, General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA confirmed that the death toll had now risen to 10 and while those rescued so far is now 10 as at 4.00pm on Tuesday.

He said the 10 survivors had been taken away for treatment by the Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS while the deceased were being packed by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, SEHMU to be taken to the mortuary.

Akindele said rescue operation was still going on. Three excavators were being used in the rescue operation as well as other search and rescue equipment.

The 5-storey building collapsed in Lekki area of Lagos, Nigeria in the early hours of Tuesday. The collapsed building might not be unconnected with the heavy rainfall will lasted for hours at the early hours of Tuesday.

The building collapsed at the Lekki Garden Estate Horizon, Ikate Elegunshi at around 6.am during the heavy downpour.

Many people are believed to still be trapped in the debris.

Rescue operators include officers of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Lagos State Fire Services, Lagos State Ambulance Service, LASAMBUS, Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Civil Defence, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Navy and the Nigeria police.

The building was under construction before it caved in.