Anambra State Emergency Management Agency has officially reported the death toll from the building collapse incident in Onitsha‘s commercial city on Monday, confirming six fatalities.
Around 20 individuals have been rescued from the rubble, with many sustaining injuries of varying severity, necessitating treatment at a nearby hospital.
The agency stated that six bodies retrieved from the debris have been transferred to the morgue, while those injured are undergoing medical care.
Rescue operations continue as of Tuesday.
Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo visited the site to assess the damage and ascertain the cause of the collapse, promising justice for the victims.
He expressed dismay at the lack of awareness regarding the ongoing construction at the market.
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Soludo pledged to prosecute and hold accountable all parties involved in the disaster, including the developer and market chairman.
He announced plans to demolish the adjacent construction by the same developer once rescue efforts conclude.
Furthermore, Soludo declared that any unauthorized construction in Anambra markets would face demolition, with all existing structures subject to integrity tests.
Commissioner for Special Duties, Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche, also expressed condolences and assured affected families of accountability measures.
Government officials, including Soludo, directed additional excavators to aid ongoing rescue efforts.
As rescue operations persist, it’s reported that some individuals remain trapped following the collapse of another under-construction building near Ochanja market in Onitsha.
Panic ensued as bystanders and residents rushed to assist those trapped in the rubble.
