Two children of the same parents have been confirmed dead, while eight other persons have been rescued from the rubbles of a three-storey building, which collapsed at 20, Freeman Street, Lagos Island on Saturday morning.
The incident occurred at about 4.05am and the building suffered a total collapse, leaving its occupants trapped, as they were fast asleep.
Neighbours were said to have alerted emergency responders about the incident. On arrival, the first victim to be recovered was a male child, who was pronounced dead.
It was learnt that the former occupants of the building had all vacated it when they noticed its distressed nature. However, it was let out to a new set of 10 tenants.
At dawn, sympathisers defied the social distancing order concerning COVID-19 and trooped to the scene.
Some of the onlookers alleged that the developer brought in the victims, assuring them that the building will be renovated. It was undergoing the renovation when it went down, today.
As at 10.30a.m., search and rescue operation had been completed, but removal of the rubbles was ongoing.
While the survivors were attended to at the scene, the two dead children have been deposited at the morgue.
