2 Dead, 37 Rescued, Scores Trapped as Abuja Plaza Collapses

A two-story plaza collapsed in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Wednesday night at Lagos Street in the Garki Village area of Garki District.

Confirming the development to journalists in Abuja, the Director General of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Abbass Iddriss, said 37 people have so far been rescued at the scene of the collapsed structure.

Dr. Iddriss said the affected persons have been evacuated to various medical facilities in Abuja. He further confirmed that two people were fatally injured.

According to the DG, “37 people have so far been rescued and evacuated to hospitals; others are reportedly still trapped.”

“The rescue team and others are on the ground. Rescue operations are on but slowly due to ongoing rain”.

“They are making frantic efforts at getting an excavator to remove people from the rubble”, he added.

The DG commended the efforts of all stakeholders working hard manually to rescue trapped people, including members of the community.

He revealed that rescue missions have continued while they await the arrival of equipment to enhance the operations.