By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The death toll in Saturday’s building collapse at Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria has reached seven, with 13 survivors rescued.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed on Monday that 20 people were pulled from the rubble following the collapse of a two-storey building at 9 and 10 Oremeta Street, Ojodu-Berger.
In its third-day update released at 1:14 p.m. on Monday, April 21, LASEMA revealed that 13 victims had been rescued alive, comprising nine adult male and four adult female, saying that seven bodies had also been recovered—five adult female and two adult male.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing at the scene, with LASEMA and supporting agencies deploying both heavy and light rescue equipment to navigate the debris and reach potential survivors.
Among the heavy-duty equipment currently in use are excavators, jackhammers, payloaders, Hiab cranes, and tipper trucks. Light rescue tools such as concrete cutters, spreaders, combis, and rams are also being utilised in the delicate operation.
The site remains cordoned off, with safety and crowd control measures actively enforced to ensure an uninterrupted rescue mission. Both outer and inner perimeters have been secured to keep unauthorised persons away from the hazardous zone.
LASEMA’s Tiger and Cobra response teams, alongside the Pre-Hospital Care Unit, are leading the response in conjunction with the Nigeria Red Cross, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), the Nigeria Police (Area F Command and Ojodu Division), and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
Authorities are yet to determine the exact cause of the collapse, and investigations are expected to commence once rescue operations are concluded.
LASEMA has promised to provide further updates as the operation progresses.
