A five-storey building under construction collapsed on Wednesday morning in Port Harcourt. The structure went down around 10:30am along Dr Peter Odili Road near Eterna Filling Station.
Construction workers were trapped beneath the rubble when the building gave way. Eyewitnesses said labourers had been working inside and around the structure moments before it collapsed.
Rescue teams mobilised immediately after the incident. Local residents, emergency responders, and security personnel worked together to dig through the debris.
By Wednesday evening, three people had been pulled out alive. Search efforts continued through the night to find others still missing.
Julius Berger Nigeria PLC joined the rescue operation on Thursday. The construction giant deployed heavy equipment and specialised machinery to aid the search.
Hydraulic breakers and concrete cutters were brought to the site to carefully remove debris. Lighting rigs and power generators kept the operation running after dark.
Safety gear was provided for rescue workers facing dangerous conditions. Engr.
Rimon Marisho, Julius Berger's Regional Manager for South-South, said the company remained committed to public safety and community welfare.
Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara visited the site on Thursday. He ordered the complete closure of the area pending investigation.
According to him, the site will remain sealed until authorities determine what caused the collapse. Preliminary investigations revealed troubling details about the developer's conduct.
State officials had been denied access to inspect the project multiple times. Building regulations were not followed during construction, Fubara noted.
A comprehensive investigation will be launched. The governor vowed to prevent similar incidents from happening in the state again.
