Death toll from collapsed building hits 22

Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) say that the death toll from the collapsed building in Lagos has risen to 22.
AFP quotes a highly-placed NEMA official, Ibrahim Farinloye, as saying, “We recovered four more bodies today when we resumed operations, bringing the total death toll so far to 22.”
“Some of the 13 people picked up alive from the wreckage of the building have been taken to the general hospital on Lagos Island, treated and discharged.”
The collapse occurred on Tuesday in the highbrow Lekki area which has some of the most expensive real estate in the city and has developed rapidly in recent years into a preferred location for wealthier Nigerians and expatriate workers.
Lagos building authorities have since commenced investigations into the collapse, which happened after heavy rains.
The collapsed building is reportedly owned by Lekki Gardens, a Nigerian private real estate company which has properties in the area, the NEMA official added.
The Management of Lekki Gardens while confirming the unfortunate said it was cooperating with the National Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Government, Fire Service and Lagos State Police to speed up rescue efforts.
It added that investigation is already underway to ascertain the identities of those affected as it is not company policy for site workers to take shelter in uncompleted buildings.

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