Four death recorded after building collapsed in Imo

Collapsed building at Imo

Three storeyed building collapsed in Owerri, the Imo state capital, on Sunday killing four people on the spot. Three of the seven survivors, who were severely injured, were still in a coma as of the time of filing this report.

Among the people that died were a year and six months old girl, identified as Osinachi Nnabu and a three-year-old boy, identified only as Amara, and two adults, whose identities are unknown.

Surviving with minor injuries, Osinachi’s parents and one Sunday Uzohor were discharged after first aid treatment but two serving members of the National Youth Service Corps identified as Chinedu, his female counterpart, whose name is unknown was known to be a Law graduate. She was also said to be undertaking her one year compulsory youth service in the state capital.

A 40-year-old man, identified as Mr. Anoruo, was unconscious as doctors at the police clinic, Owerri, are trying to save their lives.

It was gathered that the two corps members were sleeping in the same room when the building collapsed in the mid-night.It took about eight hours before the corps member were rescued and they still had a sign of life when they were rescued.

One of the survivors, Uzoha, said there was no sign of danger and that it was by the grace of God that he survived.

He said, “I cannot explain how it all happened. My survival is a miracle and I thank God that I am still alive,adding that “It is very painful that our 18 months old child, Osinachi, died in such a painful and agonising manner.”

Mr. Dominic Nnabu, the father of one of the dead babies, said his family had barely spent two months in the building when it collapsed.

Chris Ezike, the state Commissioner of Police, told the media that preliminary investigation showed that the collapse was caused by the poor work done by the engineering team adding that those responsible for the disaster will be prosecuted.