Panic as building under construction collapses in Ondo

A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday evening in Akure, the Ondo State capital, after a storey building under construction suddenly collapsed, leaving four people injured.

The building reportedly gave way while several construction workers were inside the structure, carrying out their duties. Emergency responders and residents rushed to the scene to rescue those trapped under the rubble.

Located at the popular Cathedral Junction, beside the former secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) along Oyemekun Road, the building had been under construction for the past six months. The incident occurred at around 3:30 pm.

Following the collapse, passersby and sympathizers rushed to the scene to help rescue those trapped under the debris. Men of the Federal Fire Service reportedly arrived shortly after the incident.

According to sources, some workers who sustained varying degrees of injuries were rushed to the hospital and promptly treated by medical personnel.

Sources also confirmed that two workers remain missing.

One eyewitness, who gave his name as Dapo, said: “I was riding my bike around Cathedral Junction when I suddenly heard a loud noise. On looking back, my passenger and I saw a massive crowd rushing to the area.

“I assisted people at the scene to rescue some of those caught in the collapse. They are workers at the site and they were seriously injured.”

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sunday Olajide, who rushed to the scene, said an investigation would be launched to determine both the immediate and long-term causes of the incident.

Meanwhile, the state government has sealed off the site and vowed to take further action based on the outcome of the investigation.