Numerous injuries reported as warehouse collapses in Niger - Android Pols
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| Numerous injuries reported as warehouse collapses in Niger |
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the collapse in a statement, noting that there were no fatalities at the time of the report
A multitude of casualties were reported in the Sabon Gari area of Minna following the collapse of a one-storey warehouse, leaving several individuals trapped within.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the collapse in a statement, noting that there were no fatalities at the time of the report.
According to The PUNCH, the collapse occurred while two trailer loads of soft drinks were being unloaded, with over 50 people present inside the warehouse.
The incident took place on Friday at the bustling Kasuwan Gwari Market.
Aliyu Umaru, an eyewitness at the scene, informed PUNCH that upon the collapse, locals quickly gathered to assist the injured and those trapped.
"Numerous individuals were caught in the debris. Some were retrieved deceased, while others, critically injured, were taken to medical facilities. The condition of one victim, struggling to breathe as he was transported to the hospital, was dire, casting doubt on his survival," Umaru stated.
Umaru disclosed that the original residential building was modified into a warehouse by its owner, a native of Kano State, without making necessary structural changes.
NSEMA reiterated the collapse in their statement but emphasized the absence of fatalities at the time of reporting.
Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of NSEMA, who acknowledged the incident in a Friday night statement, indicated that the building is slated for demolition.
Baba-Arah also mentioned that the conversion from a residential unit to a warehouse was unauthorized.
"NSEMA responded to a distress signal at 3:15 pm regarding a building collapse in the Sabon Gari area of Minna. The agency promptly notified other agencies for search and rescue efforts.
The operations, led by NSEMA, involved NEMA, the State Urban Development Board, and the State Environmental Protection Agency, along with the Federal Fire service, police, NSCDC, NDLEA, The Redcross, vigilante groups, and volunteers.
At the time of this report, there were no casualties, five individuals were rescued with injuries of varying severity, and two escaped unscathed. An excavator was deployed to sift through the rubble for potential survivors, and NEMA provided life-detection equipment. However, after a thorough three-hour search, no additional victims were found," Baba-Arah reported.
Post-rescue findings by NSEMA revealed that the building, initially residential, was later repurposed as a warehouse without official authorization.
"The structure was inadequately built using inferior materials. It was overloaded with soft drinks from approximately 25 trucks, overwhelming the building and causing its collapse," NSEMA stated.
The State Urban Development Board has mandated the complete demolition of the compromised structure.
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