Two residents trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed one-storey building in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have been rescued alive.
The incident occurred at Kubwa 2/2, near the Yellow Page area, at about 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
The victims, trapped on the ground floor of the residential building, were rescued by emergency responders and taken to Kubwa General Hospital for medical attention. They were said to be in stable condition.
Nkechi Isa, Head of Media and Public Relations at the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD), confirmed the incident in a statement.
Isa said the affected property comprised six blocks of flats, adding that most of the other occupants were away when the right segment of the structure collapsed.
According to her, FEMD received a distress call at 11:38am and promptly mobilised to the scene to rescue those trapped.
She said the two residents were evacuated alive, with no fatalities recorded, although personal belongings and household items were destroyed.
The cause of the collapse was not immediately known as of press time.
Relevant authorities are expected to assess the affected structure and adjoining buildings to determine the cause of the collapse and ensure the safety of residents and passers-by.
The rescue operation again underscored the importance of rapid emergency response whenever building disasters occur, particularly in densely populated communities where occupants could become trapped beneath concrete, blocks and other construction materials.
Residents in the area were also expected to remain cautious around the collapsed structure and avoid approaching unstable sections of the building until relevant authorities declared the site safe.
The condition of the two rescued residents was described as stable while receiving treatment at Kubwa General Hospital.
Further details on the incident, including the victims’ identity, the circumstances leading to the collapse and possible official findings, were not immediately available at the time of filing this report.