Many victims were feared trapped when a two-storey building still under construction, housing traders and shop owners, collapsed at the Ekeoyibo Market, Amawbia in the Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State on Thursday.
Although the casualty figure had yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report, PUNCH Metro gathered that lives might have been lost in the incident and many victims are feared trapped under the rubble.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the incident happened at about noon, causing panic among the traders and residents in the area.
This is coming barely a month after a five-storey building collapsed on the premises of Dennis Memorial Grammar School and less than four months after a similar occurrence happened at the Ochanja Market, all in Onitsha.
When our correspondent visited the scene, eyewitnesses revealed that the two-storey building suddenly crumbled, burying some traders under the debris.
The sources who refused to identify themselves because they were not permitted to speak said one person was rescued after about one hour of rescue operations and was immediately rushed to the Amawbia Maternity Home for urgent medical attention.
As of the time of filing this report on Thursday evening, it was gathered that more people were still trapped inside the wreckage.
Security operatives led by the state police command were at the scene coordinating the rescue operations and maintaining law and order.
Some wailing traders who witnessed the collapse told our correspondent that the disaster should be blamed on substandard engineering work, alleging that the building’s structural integrity had been compromised.
While some others blamed the collapse on the persistent rainfall in the area since last week.
The spokesman for the state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development when contacted, adding that two victims were rescued and rushed to the hospital.
Ikenga said, “In response to a distress call today 4/7/2024 at about 12:40pm of a building collapse at Ekeoyibo Market, Amawbia, police operatives have rescued two victims and taken them to the hospital for medical care.
“Meanwhile, on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations led operatives at the scene for on-the-spot assessment, the area has been cordoned off and rescue operations are still ongoing.
“Further details shall be communicated, please.”
Meanwhile, rescue operations are currently going on, with emergency responders working tirelessly to search for survivors amidst the rubble.
PUNCH Metro observed that the atmosphere at the market was tense, with onlookers anxiously waiting for news of the rescue of people feared trapped in the building.
The incident sent panic throughout the community, with many calling for an investigation into the cause of the collapse.
The state government had yet to comment on the incident but promised to release a statement soon.
As the rescue efforts continued, the death toll remained uncertain, but there were fears that the tragedy might have claimed some lives.
The Amawbia market is a bustling commercial hub, with traders and residents struggling to come to terms with the devastating loss.
