There was panic in the Alakija area of Lagos State on Thursday after a three-storey building suddenly collapsed, leaving an unspecified number of people feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident caused confusion among residents and passersby as the structure came down unexpectedly, attracting a large crowd to the scene.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to confirm the number of people trapped or whether any casualties had been recorded.
Witnesses said the collapse occurred without warning, sending dust and debris into the surrounding area and triggering fear among nearby residents and business owners.
The cause of the building collapse remains unknown, with officials yet to determine the circumstances that led to the incident.
Emergency response agencies were expected to mobilise to the location to commence rescue operations and assess the extent of the damage.
Concerned residents gathered around the site while efforts were being made to establish the number of occupants who may have been inside the building when it collapsed.
Rescue workers are expected to begin a search-and-rescue operation aimed at locating survivors and recovering anyone trapped beneath the debris.
Authorities have not released details regarding the ownership of the property or whether any prior structural concerns had been reported before the collapse.
The incident has once again raised concerns over building safety and structural integrity in parts of Lagos, where cases of building collapse have been recorded in recent years.
Officials are expected to conduct investigations to determine the immediate and remote causes of the collapse.
Residents of the area have called for swift intervention by emergency agencies to ensure that anyone trapped is rescued as quickly as possible.
Further details are expected as rescue efforts progress and authorities provide updates on the situation.
