We’ll recover all trapped in Rivers collapsed building —NEMA

Rescue operations are ongoing at the site of a collapsed five-storey building on Odili Road in Port Harcourt, with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) committed to recovering all individuals trapped within the debris. Dr. Chidi Ogundu, Head of NEMA's Port Harcourt Operations Office, confirmed that the efforts would persist until every person, dead or alive, is recovered.

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Four people were brought out from the collapsed building. One dead, three alive. And the operation, this rescue operation as you can see, will continue until all the bodies, whether dead or alive, are recovered from these rubbles.

As of Wednesday night, the operation had yielded the recovery of four individuals from beneath the rubble: one deceased and three survivors. The rescued individuals were promptly transported to a hospital for medical attention. Dr. Ogundu described the incident as unfortunate but expressed optimism that the coordinated efforts involving various agencies and the Rivers State government would lead to the successful extraction of anyone still trapped.

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We are continuing to work till the end of today, Thursday and beyond until everyone trapped there is all out, whether dead or alive like I said.

Dr. Ogundu stressed the importance of adherence to building regulations, advising developers to strictly follow approved plans and utilize quality materials. He noted that deviations, such as constructing more stories than initially approved, often lead to structural failures. "When the building later collapses, the government takes over, you will lose everything. And where lives are lost, it goes back to minus zero," he stated, emphasizing the severe consequences of substandard construction practices, including the use of excessive sand instead of cement.

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My advice to residents is that whenever they see structures like this going beyond a level they should raise the alarm. So builders must stick to the approval given to them when they are building houses.

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious construction activities that appear to exceed approved levels. This, he explained, can help prevent tragedies that result in loss of life and property, ultimately causing greater financial and emotional devastation for all involved.

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One of the major causes of all this problem is when somebody is giving approval to build a one-story you now go and build three or four, you will be causing more problems.