Seven wounded as three-storey building collapses in Rivers

The Rivers State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Evans Bipi, confirmed that no fatalities were recorded in a building collapse that occurred on Saturday, January 4, in the Ikwerre Local Government Area.  

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Emeka Idika, the commissioner highlighted that the timely intervention of the ministry, the Ministry of Special Duties, and other collaborative efforts ensured the rescue of victims and averted any loss of lives.

The affected structure, a three-story building under construction, reportedly collapsed with no fewer than seven individuals sustaining varying degrees of injuries. All the victims have been taken to the hospital for medical attention.

Mr. Bipi commended the swift response of the rescue teams and reiterated the ministry’s commitment to ensuring safety in construction practices across the state. Investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing.

“It is unfortunate that we are beginning the year with this tragic incident, though no life was lost, this is the 4th building collapse we are witnessing in the state since I assumed office”

“Preliminary investigation at the scene of the incident showed that the building may have collapsed due to the use of substandard materials by the builder.

“Specifically, the use of 12mm rods for decking a building is a clear violation of construction standards, unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, as similar cases in the state had been linked to the same cause.

”The property has been sealed pending investigation into the cause of collapse,” the Commissioner said.