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General News of Saturday, 2 May 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Imo Building Collapse: Death toll increases to 15 - NEMA

Image of the collapsed building Image of the collapsed building

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that the number of death as a rest;t of the collapsed building in Imo Stae has risen to a total of 15.

MyNigeria.com reported that an eight-storey building under construction along the Yar’Adua Drive in Owerri, the Imo State capital, collapsed on April 30th.

Two persons were confirmed dead on Thursday while five more bodies were pulled from the wreckage on Friday.

Reports also revealed that about eight persons that were rushed to the hospital have now died, taking the death toll to at least 15 as of May 2nd.

NEMA’s Head of Imo/Abia State Operations Office, Evans Ugoh, gave the update on Friday in Owerri as rescue efforts continued at the site of the building collapse.

"As you can see, we are still working, disaster managers are on ground conducting search and rescue. We have exhumed five dead bodies today. I believe that more people are still trapped but we will not give up," Mr Ugoh said.

The Chairman of Owerri Capital Development Authority, Innocent Ikpamezie, has blamed the collapse on poor engineering work.

Mr Ikpamezie made the disclosure in a radio programme on Friday, where he analysed the cause of the collapse.

He said many contractors were in the habit of violating building guidelines, which according to him, often results in building collapses.

Meanwhile, Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma has vowed to bring the developer of the collapsed eight-storey hotel building to book in which some people died while others were injured, some seriously.

He promised that his government would do everything humanly possible to ensure that all those who are still trapped in the rubbles are brought out alive.[WuzupNigeria]