No fewer than five persons lost their lives on Saturday after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Durumi 3 area near Gudu Market in the Federal Capital Territory.
Emergency responders also rescued 10 persons alive from the rubble as frantic efforts continued to locate other victims believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
The incident occurred at a construction site around the Gaduwa Estate axis in the Gudu district of Abuja, throwing residents and traders in the area into panic.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration confirmed the tragedy in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka.
According to the statement, rescue operations were still ongoing as emergency workers battled difficult conditions at the site.
“At least five persons have been confirmed dead while 10 others were rescued alive after a three-storey building under construction collapsed in the Durumi 3 area near Gudu Market, Abuja,” the statement read.
It added that emergency responders were intensifying efforts to evacuate more victims feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, who visited the scene, disclosed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had directed that all injured victims receive free medical treatment.
Fasawe said emergency response teams had been fully mobilised to manage the disaster and provide urgent support for survivors.
She noted that search and rescue officials were working under challenging conditions as they continued operations at the collapsed structure.
Officials of the Federal Fire Service, security agencies, medical personnel and local volunteers were seen combing through the debris in search of survivors while anxious residents gathered around the scene awaiting updates.