A 4-storeyed building nearing its completion, yesterday, collapsed in Oko community, Orumba North council of Anambra State, killing three persons and injuring one. The incident happened at about 4am.
According to the residents of the area, the rear of the building which had three phases collapsed in the afternoon shortly after a heavy downpour. They said that the deceased persons went into sleep hoping that further collapse would not occur.
The building is suspected to be a private hostel accommodation for the students of Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
One of the residents who gave her name as Ifeoma narrated that one of the workers had warned his colleagues not to pass the night in the building but they refused.
“I heard him warning them not to sleep in the building since a section of the building had collapsed but they refused. They replied him that nothing would happen.
“Even, they persuaded him to go in with them which he initially did but later came out of the building,” she narrated.
She said that another survivor of the tragedy, a student of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, whose name she gave as Samuel sustained deep injury on his arm when the first collapse took place. The student was said to be working in the building to support himself in the institution.
They disclosed that the bodies of the diseased persons have been exhumed and taken to an undisclosed mortuary.
It was not clear what the cause of the building collapse was but sources blamed usage of inferior building materials. Efforts to ascertain the owner of the building and the contractor proved abortive as the residents denied having knowledge of their identities.
Meanwhile, all efforts to contact the Police Public Relations of Officer in the state, Mrs Nkeiruka Nwode, to speak on the matter proved abortive as all her mobile telephone lines were switched off.
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