At least 37 survivors rescued from Abuja building collapse

ABUJA, Nigeria – Rescue crews have rescued at least 37 survivors from the rubble of a two-story building that collapsed in Nigeria’s capital on Wednesday night, killing two people and leaving many others feared trapped.

The building, which served as both a shopping center and a residential block, collapsed during a heavy rainstorm in the densely populated Garki district of Abuja. Witnesses said they heard a loud bang and saw dust and debris flying in the air.

Rescue workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies used an excavator and a bulldozer to clear away the debris and search for signs of life. They also used sniffer dogs and thermal cameras to locate the victims.

Nkechi Isa, spokeswoman for FEMA, said the rescue efforts would continue until all the rubble was searched. She said some of the survivors were shoppers who were at the center at the time of the collapse.

“We are doing our best to save as many lives as possible. We are appealing to the public to stay away from the scene and allow us to do our work,” she said.

The cause of the collapse is still under investigation, but some residents blamed it on poor construction and maintenance standards. Building collapses are common in Nigeria, where corruption and negligence often lead to substandard materials and safety violations.

In 2019, at least 20 people died when a building housing a school and apartments collapsed in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. In 2016, more than 100 people were killed when a church collapsed in Uyo, in the south of the country.