ONITSHA BUILDING COLLAPSE: RESCUED VICTIM DIES

REPORTER: OBY ARINZE

One of the three victims trapped in the collapsed five-storey building at the premises of Dennis Memorial Grammar School, (DMGS), Onitsha, in Anambra State, Mr. Gideon Ezeigwe, has been confirmed dead.

This was announced in a statement issued by the Director of Operations, DMGS Centenary, Mr. Chijioke Ojji and made available to journalists by the Director of Communications, Diocese on the Niger, Mr. Osaeloka Offoh, on Friday.

The late Ezeigwe, who hailed from Nkerefi in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, was the third trapped person to be rescued and retrieved from the 1st floor of the collapsed building.

The statement said the family of the deceased had been informed and had the school’s support in dealing with the tragic loss.

It noted that though the search and rescue phase was over, their priority remained ensuring the safety of all, including securing the site.

The statement further applauded the Anambra State Government for providing an excavator to aid the rescue mission and the Fire Service for the provision of water tanker which was used to reduce dust and cool the temperature of the entrapment site.

The statement also indicated that the two other victims rescued alive, were still in stable health condition.

In the meantime, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) and the Anambra State Physical Planning Board have commenced professional and statutory investigations into the building collapse.

It will be recalled that the five storey building, still under construction collapsed at about 7:15am on Wednesday, initially trapping three of the construction workers.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU