The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and other agencies have rescued about 19 people from the rubble of a collapsed three-storey shopping complex under construction in Gwarimpa, Abuja.
The senior special assistant to the federal capital territory (FCT) minister on monitoring, inspection, and enforcement, Mr Ikharo Attah, had early disclosed on Thursday that seven persons were rescued.
Attah had, however, said many persons were still feared trapped under the rubble of the building — a shopping mall under construction in the 7th avenue area of Gwarimpa in Abuja.
He said, “At about 2:41pm on Thursday, we have rescued seven persons. Out of the seven, five looked stable while two have been taken to the hospital due to their unstable condition.
“So, many of them are still there. Many of them are still calling their relatives under the rubble.”
In a statement hours later, the FCT emergency management agency said a total of 19 persons had been rescued.
The statement by Nkechi Isa, spokesperson of the agency, reads in part, “A combined team of FEMA, NEMA, FRSC, Nigeria Police, Civil Defence Corps, and the Abuja Metropolitan Management Agency are at the scene of the incident to rescue the persons trapped in the rubble of the collapsed building.
“Some construction companies with heavy-duty equipment were also part of the rescue efforts.”
Isa added that the victims have been taken to hospitals in Wuse, Gwarinpa, and Asokoro.”
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