LASEMA Confirms 1 Dead, 26 Rescued in Lagos Building Collapse

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed that one person died while 26 others were rescued after a two-storey building collapsed on Coast Street, Oyingbo, Lagos, in the early hours of Monday. The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who led the coordinated rescue operation, disclosed that the agency received a distress call at about 12:11 a.m. and immediately mobilised emergency responders to the scene. He commended the swift response of all rescue teams, noting that the government’s emergency preparedness under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration continues to ensure timely and efficient rescue operations.

Oke-Osanyintolu explained that the response team worked strategically and systematically to evacuate victims trapped in the rubble. According to him, 21 injured persons were taken to various general hospitals across the state, where they are receiving free medical treatment, in line with Lagos State’s policy of providing emergency care to victims at no cost. Additionally, five victims received on-the-spot medical attention from the LASEMA Ambulance team and were discharged after stabilisation. He, however, confirmed that one fatality was recorded, and the deceased’s body had been moved to the mortuary.

The LASEMA boss noted that ongoing rescue operations were being carried out with precision and caution to prevent additional casualties. He explained that the disaster site was divided into four quadrants for coordinated search and recovery, with light-duty equipment used in the inner sections to minimise risk to any trapped individuals, and heavy-duty machinery deployed in the outer areas. This deliberate approach, he said, was part of the agency’s strategic plan to ensure safety and efficiency throughout the rescue process.

Oke-Osanyintolu emphasised that the state government remained fully in control of the situation, urging Lagosians to remain calm and trust in the professionalism of the emergency response teams. He assured the public that there was no equipment failure during operations and that all responders were working with utmost care based on verified intelligence. “We are working carefully to ensure no trapped person is endangered by our machinery, and we remain committed to achieving ground zero safely,” he stated..

Meanwhile, the Head of Operations at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Mohammed Olatunde, confirmed that federal and state emergency teams were working in synergy to ensure a coordinated and effective response. He revealed that officers, materials, and rescue resources had been fully deployed, with NEMA collaborating closely with LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and other relevant agencies. Olatunde appealed for calm among affected residents and relatives of victims, assuring that every possible effort was being made to rescue survivors and that relief materials would be provided to displaced victims after the rescue phase.