By Peace Udugba
Search and rescue efforts continue as emergency agencies race against time to locate trapped victims.
The death toll from the collapsed two-storey building on Baale Road near Ajuwon Bus Stop in Ogun State has risen to three, while 12 persons have been rescued alive as emergency responders intensify search and rescue operations.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), which joined the ongoing rescue efforts, confirmed that as of 11:42 a.m. on Tuesday, three victims had been recovered dead from the rubble.
According to the agency, the deceased comprise an adult woman, a baby girl and a 75-year-old man.
LASEMA Director-General, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency deployed its Urban Search and Rescue Team to support the operation following a request from the Ogun State Government.
He explained that the deployment was in line with the emergency response collaboration between Lagos and neighbouring states, enabling swift intervention during major disasters.
Oke-Osanyintolu disclosed that 12 occupants had so far been rescued alive and taken to nearby hospitals for medical treatment, while search, rescue and recovery operations were still ongoing to locate others believed to be trapped beneath the debris.
He assured that all responding agencies were working round the clock using specialised rescue equipment to reach victims safely.
The building reportedly collapsed on Monday evening, trapping several occupants. Eyewitnesses had earlier reported hearing voices from beneath the rubble, with some trapped victims responding to phone calls from relatives, raising hopes of more survivors.
Emergency responders from the Ogun State Government, LASEMA, security agencies and other rescue organisations remain at the scene as efforts continue to account for all occupants.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the collapse, while investigations are expected to commence after the rescue operation is concluded.
