Kano Building Collapse Kills 3, Traps Several; 2 Rescued Alive

A three-story building under construction collapsed on Friday morning in the Kuntau quarters of Gwale Local Government Area in Kano State, Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of three people and trapping several others. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) received a distress call about the incident around 9:20 am and immediately dispatched a rescue team to the scene.

According to NEMA's Kano territorial coordinator, Nuradeen Abdullahi, five people were rescued from the rubble and taken to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, where three were confirmed dead and two were receiving treatment for their injuries. Eyewitnesses reported that more than 10 people were trapped under the debris, with some of them being laborers and carpenters working at the construction site.

Why this matters: The incident highlights the ongoing issue of building collapses in Nigeria, often attributed to poor construction practices and the use of substandard materials. It emphasizes the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the construction industry to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

The search and rescue operation is still ongoing, with teams from NEMA, the Kano State Fire Service, Police, Red Cross, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) collaborating at the scene to locate and remove any remaining trapped victims. An earth-moving vehicle was spotted at the site as the rescue efforts continued.

The ward head, Balarabe Nasidi, stated that the collapsed building, which reportedly belonged to a former local council chairman, was not properly constructed. However, officials have not yet commented on the cause of the collapse, and investigations are underway to determine the factors that led to the tragic incident.

"The building was owned by a former council chairman, according to the ward head, Balarabe Nasidi," NEMA's Abdulhadi Tukur confirmed. The rescue teams are working tirelessly to save as many lives as possible, with two people rescued alive so far. The authorities have not released an official statement regarding the total number of casualties or the cause of the collapse, as the situation is still developing.

Key Takeaways

• 3-story building under construction collapsed in Kano, Nigeria, killing 3 and injuring 2.
• NEMA received distress call, dispatched rescue team; 5 people rescued, 3 confirmed dead.
• Eyewitnesses report over 10 people trapped, including laborers and carpenters at the site.
• Building reportedly owned by former local council chairman, not properly constructed.
• Ongoing search and rescue operation, cause of collapse under investigation.