3 RESCUED AS 5-STOREY BUILDING COLLAPSED AT DMGS ONITSHA

REPORTER: OBY ARINZE

Three construction workers have been rescued alive as a five storey building under construction collapsed at the premises of Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS), Onitsha Anambra State.

The Chairman, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Mr. Victor Meju, who made this known in an interview with Radio Nigeria, said the building collapsed on Wednesday June 12, 2024.

Mr. Meju said that investigation to unravel the true cause of the collapse would commence immediately.

He explained that the three construction workers were trapped in the debris, saying that the first person was rescued around 6pm on Wednesday, the second person around 9:30pm while the third was around 11:45pm.

According to the COREN boss, the rescue team left the scene of the building collapse around 12:00am Thursday.

On how to ascertain the real cause of the collapse, Mr. Meju said he would write a letter to the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to set up panel of enquiry consisting engineers and relevant professionals to carry out final analysis to that effect.

He expressed surprise that the incident could happen considering the caliber of engineers attached to the project.

The COREN chairman, while stating that it was a full collapse not a partial collapse, however suggested that the collapse could be traced to a faulty foundation, stressing that It was likely that the beams and columns were weak, probably there was a compromise of the standard.

Mr. Metu said he would also write to the chief consultant to provide the drawing, to know if it was designed for four, three or two storeys.

Radio Nigeria gathered that the construction commenced two years ago, and was initiated by the international old boys’ chapter of the school to commemorate its forthcoming centenary anniversary.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU